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Government urged to bring forward payment date for water grant to ease financial hardship

Published 21/11/2014

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Age Action has urged the Government to bring forward the payment date for the €100 grant for households  in order to reduce the impact which the water charges will have on low income families.

“We are concerned that the revised water charge scheme will create increased financial hardship on some older people on low incomes because they will be required to make the first two quarterly payments in April and July  2015 before they receive their €100 payment in September,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said.  “This would amount to upfront payments  of €80 for a single person or €130 for a household with more than one adult. The cumulative impact of austerity means that many older people simply cannot afford this.”

“The Government must acknowledge the increased burden which the water charge will impose on those on lowest incomes, and take steps to ease this by bringing forward the payment date for the grant.  Ideally, it should be paid in April to coincide with the first quarterly bill.”

Under the original water charge proposals, most older people would have received €100 towards their water charges through quarterly payments through the Household Benefits Package.  This would have provided greater protection against hardship for low income pensioner households as the payments would have coincided with their water bills.

 

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Age Action Ireland to benefit from Gas Networks Ireland Survey

Gas Networks Ireland is raising money for Age Action. If you've recently called their contact centre or had work done by them, you might receive a text from Gas Networks asking for your feedback. For every response received, they'll donate €2 to Age Action. There is no obligation to participate.

How It Works - If you've had contact with Gas Networks Ireland service centre or had work carried out by them, you may receive a message from Marie Lyster, their Customer Experience Manager. This message is an invitation to share your feedback. 

By providing feedback – only if you choose to – you'll be supporting Age Action Ireland. For every piece of feedback received, Gas Networks Ireland will donate €2 to our organisation. This contribution can support our efforts to improve the lives of older people in Ireland.You won't be asked for any bank details or money. Gas Networks Ireland is handling all the donations.

If you would rather not get these texts, just let them know and you won’t be included.  If you are over 65yrs old, you can contact them directly on their Age-Friendly service.  See their contact details here.

For Corporate Clients- Please note that Gas Networks donate €50 for each qualitative interview their commercial customers take part in.

Details on Gas networks customer surveys is available here.

For more information about our work and other ways to get involved with Age Action, please click here.