Liam Collins: How I survived for a week on the state pension of €299.30 - until I didn’t Without a private source of income, the mere act of getting by feels out of reach for many Liam Collins with some of his purchases. Photo: Steve Humphreys It looked impressive spread out on the kitchen table: five €50 notes, one €20, a €10, a €5 and €4.30 in loose coins, making a grand total of €299.30 — my weekly allowance from the State as a pensioner.