A raft of social protection increases are due to come into effect from next week.
The €1bn package will include the next €200 energy credit to all households to use towards their winter energy costs.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys today issued a statement outlining the various increases announced in September’s Budget statement, which will benefit over 1.5 million people.
The changes include improvements of support for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and low-income families.
There will be a €12 increase in weekly payments, a €40 per week increase in Working Family Payment thresholds; and a €25 per week increase in “earnings disregards” for people with disabilities.
The changes also include the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme.
Announcing the changes earlier this month, Ms Humphreys said that over 80,000 new households are to qualify for the fuel allowance.