Social Justice Ireland is calling on the next Government to use the Covid-19 illness payment as a basis to reform the social welfare system.

Social Justice Ireland is calling on the next Government to use the Covid-19 illness payment as a basis to reform the social welfare system.
The Think Tank says the increase in the emergency payment to €350 per week is an acceptance that the rate of €203 in benefit per week is not enough. 
Social Justice Ireland says the basic Jobseekers Allowance of €81 is below the poverty line and rather than reducing the Covid-19 payment, the social welfare system should be reformed.
SJI is calling for welfare rates to be indexed to the minimum essential budget standard.
It has called on the new Government to reform of the social welfare system. 
It says it will give certainty to people on fixed incomes and ensure that the weakest in society are not left behind again.