Over 10,200 social welfare payments cut in 2024 over recipients failure to cooperate with efforts to find work

More than 10,200 unemployed people had their social welfare payments reduced last year over their failure to fully cooperate with efforts to find them work.

New figures published by the Department of Social Protection also show that the number of jobseekers penalised for their lack of engagement with employment activation programmes is more pronounced in certain counties including Waterford, Limerick, Wexford, Louth and Laois.

They also reveal that the number of jobseekers affected by reduced social welfare rates almost doubled last year.

Official figures provided in response to a parliamentary question by Social Democrats TD, Aidan Farrelly, show that 10,232 unemployed individuals had their social welfare payments reduced in 2024, compared to 5,235 the previous year.

However, the Department of Social Protection said reduced rates were gradually introduced during 2023 after the application of reductions to social welfare payments for unemployed persons was suspended during the…