New social welfare payment that will replace two others on the way for Irish people
It will be implemented by the Department of Social Protection in the next three years
A new social welfare payment that will replace two other payments is on the way in Ireland.
The new "working-age payment" is currently in the consultation phase, with talks regarding what the details of the scheme will look like being hashed out.
It will be implemented by the Department of Social Protection in the next three years, with a promise for change to take place before the current government's term ends.
It's understood that the new payment will replace the Jobseeker's Allowance and the Working Family Payment.
Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, explained the details known so far to David McCullough on RTÉ Radio 1.
She said that at most, 20,000 people will benefit from the updated rules, despite over 56,000 people currently receiving the Working Family Payment.
Reasons for the change include improving the number of people who claim their social welfare entitlements, while also simplifying the current application system.
"Lots of people aren't taking up their entitlement to these payments because it's so complex," Laura said.
She added that it is really important for members of the public and organisations that represent people on social welfare and workers to pay close attention to the design details of the new scheme as they are announced.
Laura also highlighted how important it is that safeguards are put in place to ensure rates are not frozen.
This will ensure that they rise and fall in line with inflation.