DFI Cost of Disability Payment Submission Summary
Issued on May 13 2026
About the consultation
The Government has committed to delivering a permanent Cost of Disability payment. As part of this process, the Department of Social Protection held a public consultation to inform how this payment should work.
This commitment is the result of over two decades of advocacy by DFI and the wider disability community in Ireland. It is a significant step, but the work is far from done.
What DFI did
DFI made a detailed submission to the consultation. Our submission addressed the four consultation questions on:
- the purpose of a Cost of Disability payment
- eligibility criteria
- payment amount
- how the payment should work in practice.
Our submission drew on relevant research and evidence, reiterated long-standing policy recommendations, and included suggestions for the Department of Social Protection's Cost of Disability Summit on 13 May 2026.
How we arrived at our key points
DFI's submission was grounded in four sources:
Research evidence Extensive research has documented the scale and range of extra costs that disabled people face across transport, healthcare, housing, education, communication and everyday living.
DFI members and lived experience We gathered case studies, detailed concerns and data directly from DFI member organisations and disabled people, ensuring that real lived experience shaped our recommendations.
International best practice We drew on guidance from international experts and organisations, including the European Disability Forum, and looked at good practice examples from other countries.
Long-standing recommendations Our submission builds on years of DFI policy submissions to Government and sustained work with disabled people and civil society organisations.
Key considerations
Before setting out our specific asks, DFI identified six core issues that must underpin any Cost of Disability payment or wider policy response.
UN CRPD obligations Ireland is currently failing its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), particularly Article 28 (social protection) and Article 27 (right to work). A Cost of Disability payment must be designed to deliver on these rights — not just as a financial measure, but as a matter of human rights.
Co-design with disabled people Any payment must be co-designed with disabled people and their organisations from the outset. This will take time and requires a structured, ongoing process — not a one-off consultation.
Poverty and deprivation Disabled households need up to 93% more income to achieve the same living standards as non-disabled households. Ireland's social protection system does not come close to addressing this gap. The current situation is pushing disabled people deeper into poverty.
Diversity of need The extra costs disabled people face vary enormously, from relatively low to extremely high, and can change significantly over time. Any payment system must acknowledge this diversity and be genuinely responsive to it.
Systemic causes The cost of disability is not just an income issue. It is also driven by inaccessible, expensive and unavailable public services. Addressing it properly will require a holistic, whole-of-Government response across Health, Housing, Transport, Education and more.
Emergency supports needed now Budget 2026 removed several critical supports for disabled people, creating immediate hardship for many. DFI's Emergency Disability Payment campaign continues to demand that these supports are restored and replaced as an interim measure — while the permanent, co-designed payment is being developed and implemented. Disabled people cannot be left waiting.
What we are calling for
DFI's submission set out nine key measures that we believe are essential to tackle the cost of disability in a meaningful and lasting way.
1. A weekly universal cash payment
A regular cash payment available to any disabled person experiencing additional costs, regardless of employment status, income or age.
2. A stepped payment structure
A baseline floor rate, with graduated increases based on need, and the ability to apply for additional support as specific costs arise.
3. No household means-testing
Eligibility and payment levels should be assessed based solely on the individual's own costs, not on family or partner income.
4. A simple, trust-based eligibility process
The process should be grounded in the social model of disability and underpinned by a principle of trust, not administrative suspicion or excessive bureaucracy.
5. Decoupled secondary supports
Access to supports like the medical card and free transport should be linked to disability need, not tied to income thresholds. Currently, many disabled people lose essential secondary supports if they enter employment or earn above a certain level.
6. A disability tax credit
A tax credit to support disabled people who are in employment and may fall above the income thresholds for other supports.
7. A three-year cross-Departmental Action Plan
Measurable, time-bound commitments on the cost of disability across Health, Housing, Transport and other Government departments, with clear accountability for delivery.
8. Scheme review and impact measurement
A robust mechanism to track the impact of any payment over time, without the burden of frequent reassessment for individuals. This should include measuring poverty rates and employment rates among disabled people.
9. Emergency interim supports
An immediate interim measure to replace what was removed in Budget 2026, to support disabled people while the permanent, co-designed Cost of Disability payment is being put in place.
What happens next
Following the Cost of Disability Summit on 13 May 2026, a briefing paper will be produced setting out the key messages and lessons from the discussions. This will inform Government decisions on the design of a Cost of Disability payment.
DFI will continue to engage in this process and to advocate on behalf of disabled people in Ireland. We will not stop until there is a payment in place that meaningfully addresses the real and significant extra costs disabled people face every day.
Read our full submission here.
Read our summary Cost of Disability Payment submission.
Find out more about our Emergency Disability Payment campaign.