BUDGET 2014: List of items affected…so far
The old reliables have been hit with increases on drink and cigarettes while pensioners and the unemployed will also have allowances cut.
SOCIAL WELFARE
- Bereavement grant of €850 to families of dead people scrapped
- OAP telephone allowance of €9.50 a month scrapped
- Reduced dole payment for unemployed people under 26
- Maternity benefit higher rate to be cut from €262 to 230 a week
- Phasing out of mortgage interest supplement for new applicants
- Technical changes to the invalidity pension
- Clawback from insurance companies on compensation payments
- Rent Supplement minimum contribution to be increased
- Child benefit for third and subsequent child down €10, as announced
- Mortgage Interest Relief to be phased out
- RTE subsidy for OAP TV licences to be reduced by €5m from €59m to €54m
- Normal dole payment safe
- Pension safe
Free Travel safe - Half rate carers allowance safe
- Respite Care grant safe
HEALTH
- 35,000 over 70s to go from medical card to GP only card
- Income thresholds on medical cards for over 70s also to be tightened
- GP only medical card for all children under 5
- Prescription charges to go up by €1
- Cuts to hospital services
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