#social-welfare

#social-welfare

During the 2007 general election, when Bertie Ahern was on a roll as taoiseach, he was still looking after his home turf, out pounding the pavements in Drumcondra. When he knocked on the door of one voter, he found a former friendly face who was extremely angry after losing a certain social welfare benefit because he had taken on a couple of hours' ­extra work.

Revenue wrote to 34,000 family carers notifying them carer's allowance or carer's benefit have always been taxable and warning those who have not been declaring them as income they may face back-taxes. Payments to carers have always been subject to taxation but were previously self-declared. Under the new system, tax on income from the payments will be collected in real time, similar to other payments from the Department of Social Protection.

Simon Harris said there are no coalition tensions over varying the rate of increases for jobseekers and pensioners Jobseekers allowance should not increase at the same rate as other social welfare payments, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said, who added that he does not detect tension within Government on social welfare increases. Senior Government figures have signalled the end of one-off cost-of-living reliefs in next month's Budget on October 7. Instead, they've promised an increased focus on infrastructure and addressing child poverty.

Today, nearly 80 million people rely on Medicaid for care. From covering 40 percent of all childbirths to nearly 70 percent of home care for older and disabled people, Medicaid is more than a line item.

The recent changes to work requirements for benefits under the Oregon Health Plan have negatively impacted those already vulnerable, making it harder for people to receive assistance.

"Over the last 60 years, the United States has spent more than $350 billion on efforts to develop a defense against nuclear-armed ICBMs. This effort has been plagued by false starts and failures, and none have yet been demonstrated to be effective against a real-world threat... Missile defenses are not a useful or long-term strategy for keeping the U.S. safe from nuclear weapons."

Two years ago the weather was hot and I told Haringey I was burning up. This year is worse and I complained and they ignored it. The pipes are on the floor and 24 hours a day they are very hot, even in winter it's boiling.

These concessions make a terrible bill slightly less bad. The bill still represents a devastating attack on disabled people, stripping billions in support.