In contrast, in Ireland, where spending on disability benefits is relatively low, social assistance disability allowance was extended in 1997 to those in part-time residential care and benefits were increased to couples who both have disabilities.
I Det Forenede Kongerige er der planlagt yderligere stramninger af kriterierne for at modtage invalidepension samtidig med, at de, der går i arbejde — som tidligere beskrevet — nu er garanteret en mindsteindkomst via skattefradrag, og ydelserne til de reelt uarbejdsdygtige er blevet forhøjet.