More than 1.5m people are set to benefit from Social Protection increases coming into effect this week.
The increased payments, announced in Budget 2023, will see a €12 increase in the maximum rate of all core weekly payments, costing over €1billion in total.
The improvements are aimed to supporting pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and low-income families.
The changes also include the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme and significant improvements to the Working Family Payment.
Among the measures coming into effect from January 1st are:
- A 12 euro increase in the maximum rate of all core weekly payments
- Expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme which will see an estimated 81,000 additional households qualify for the payment for the first time;
- Working Family Payment thresholds to increase by €40 per week for all family sizes;
- A €25 increase, from €140 to €165, in the weekly earnings disregard (that is income discounted in the means test) for recipients of the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension;
- An increase of €20.50 in the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance bringing the payment to €330 per month. This increase is to support people who play a valuable role in Irish society – parents or guardians who look after a child with a severe disability;
- A €2 increase in payments in respect of children of social welfare recipients, bringing the payment to €42 per week for children under 12 and €50 per week for children aged 12 and over;
- Farming Families – a doubling in the amount of income that can be derived from agri-environmental schemes (e.g., Glas, ACRES) and counted in assessing means for the Farm Assist scheme. As a result of this measure, €5,000 can now be disregarded;
- Increase in earnings attracting the lower Employer PRSI rate in line with increase in the national minimum wage which supports employment.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD said: “I’m pleased to again increase the core rates of our weekly payments by €12 per week. This will see more money put back into people’s pockets, particularly at a time when people are feeling the pressures associated with the Cost of Living.
“The measures coming into effect this week are in addition to the series of Lump Sum Payments issued recently and are designed to put more money back in people’s pockets and assist families across the country with the cost of living.”
