Improving Access to Social Protection for an Ageing Population

Older people in Ireland face increasing poverty and financial difficulties, particularly those living alone. Recent CSO-SILC data revealed without cost-of-living measures, 45.6% of older people living alone would have been at risk of poverty in 2024. ALONE supported almost 44,000 older people across our services in 2024, and worryingly one-third of individuals reported financial difficulties. While increasing social welfare rates is vital, improving access to social protection payments for older people could address many of these difficulties more cost-effectively.

This policy brief outlines practical steps which we believe will make Ireland’s social protection system more accessible, efficient, and fair. ALONE’s recommendations for addressing these challenges include:

• Adapting the State Pension application process to include multiple entitlements
• Streamlining eligibility criteria
• Reducing levels of means testing
• Developing a single point of access
• Auditing existing processes
• Maintaining in-person support, and improving communication.

Download