The Department of Social Protection reports that €980 million in social welfare increases are to come into effect from January 1st – the improvements are part of Budget 2024 and provide for payment increases for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and low-income families.
The measures include a €12 increase in the maximum rate of all core weekly payments – benefitting over 1.4 million people and proportionate increases for Qualified Adult dependents. Working Family Payment thresholds increase by €54 per week for all family sizes. This will provide additional financial support for low-income families and more households will become eligible for the payment as a result of this increase. An increase of €10 in the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance will bring the payment to €340 per month. A €4 increase for Qualified Child in payments in respect of children of social welfare recipients, increases the payment to €46 per week for children under 12 and €54 per week for children aged 12 and over.
Those in receipt of a state payments are to receive a special further double payment in the week commencing January 29th 2024, paid on the same basis as the Christmas Bonus, which will be paid at the higher rates coming into effect from today.
These measures are intended to assist with the increases in the cost of living.
