Government ‘could have done more’ for elderly, says Cork advocate

Cork advocate for the elderly Paddy O’Brien says that the Government could have done more to support the elderly population in Budget 2026.

A €10 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State pensions from January 2026 was announced in the budget.

There also will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate.

It was also announced in the budget that there will be a €5 increase in the fuel allowance, from €33 to €38 per week, from January 2026, which will provide an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season.

Also, the Christmas bonus is to be paid to more than 1.47m long-term social welfare recipients in December this year.

Disappointment

Mr O’Brien told The Echo there was disappointment that the increase in the State pension was only €10.

“To be quite honest, people expected the increase would be between €12 and €15,” said Mr O’Brien. “That is because, I have said it on many occasions, the elderly are struggling currently to exist on their present payments.

“The cost of living has increased, and people are finding it difficult going to the supermarket.

“They are cutting back on their food items and they are cutting back on their fuel, because they don’t have the financial means.”

Alone, the organisation that supports older people to age at home, said that the Government missed an opportunity to target older people with supports this winter.

At risk of poverty

It said that, although the pension and fuel allowance have increased, older people living alone are still at risk of poverty this winter and over €300 worse off compared to last year.

Alone CEO Seán Moynihan said that Budget 2026 “was always going to be a tough budget, with the Government warning in advance that last year’s one-off measures wouldn’t be repeated”.

“However, the scale of the cost-of-living crisis remains stark; CSO figures show that 45.6% of older people living alone would have been at risk of poverty without last year’s one-off measures,” he said.

“With the cost of living failing to stabilise, and with more older people coming to Alone for support with issues around housing, finances, and physical health needs, the lack of targeted support like the living alone allowance in this year’s budget will be a cause of concern for many.”