Blind Tech Worker Says He Is 'Penalised' for Having a Job Under New Disability Payment
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A blind technology worker in Ireland has said he feels "very disheartened" because he is not eligible for a new payment that is meant to help people with the extra costs of living with a disability. The payment was announced as part of Budget 2027, but people who are in work cannot receive it.
The man says that because he has a job, he is effectively being punished for working. He believes that people with disabilities who want to be employed should be supported, not treated differently when they earn an income. Many people with disabilities face higher everyday costs, such as transport, equipment and assistive technology, and the new payment was designed to help with some of these expenses.
Disability advocates have raised similar concerns in the past about the rules that link support payments to employment status. They argue that these rules can discourage people from taking jobs, because they may lose financial help if their earnings rise. The details of the eligibility rules have not been fully explained in the source report, and it is not clear whether the government plans to change them.
The case shows a wider debate in Ireland about how the state supports people with disabilities who are also working. As the Budget 2027 plans continue to develop, the eligibility rules for this payment may be discussed further by policymakers and advocacy groups.
Sources: BreakingNews.ie
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