A disabled pensioner has not been given a one off €400 payment announced in last month’s budget. 

Lunchtime Live listener Antonette received the Disability Allowance for two years but was taken off it when she became a pensioner in March. 

Despite this, she was expecting to receive the €400 one off payment for disabled people.

After she did not receive the money, she rang up an official and was upset to learn she was not entitled to it. 

The payment was only given to those currently in receipt of the Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or the Carer’s Support Grant. 

Antonette said her health problems are “not going anywhere” and she is still disabled - even if she no longer receives the Disability Allowance. 

“It would be very helpful for me because I had it earmarked for paying a few bills and putting money towards presents for the grandkids,” she said. 

“Things like that. 

“So, it would have meant an awful lot to me.” 

Not receiving the money has left Antonette “high and dry” and she will have to pay her bills some other way. 

“I can’t be the only pensioner in the country that was looking to have that money to pay for Christmas,” she said. 

“Not to get, it just seems a little bit unfair to me… I actually need that money.” 

Cost of living payments

The €400 one off payment was part of a series of measures to mitigate the cost of living crisis. 

The Government also paid some 409,000 households a €300 Fuel Allowance Lump Sum Payment and 45,000 families were given a €400 Working Family Payment Lump Sum. 

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said she was “conscious” that the cost of living is still high for a lot of people. 

“This suite of lump sum payments means that people will have extra money in their pockets, which will ease the pressure and stress that many households are facing,” she said.

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Main image: An elderly woman takes out a euro note from her wallet.