Over €1bn in new measures

Over €1 billion in Social Protection supports for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and low-income families came into effect this week.

From January 1 there will be a €12 increase in weekly payments – the largest increase in over a decade.

The New Year will also see the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme.

There will also be a €40 per week increase in Working Family Payment thresholds and a €25 per week increase, from €140 to €165, in earning disregards for people with disabilities.

Furthermore there is a €20.50 increase in the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance, bringing the payment to €330 per month.

There will meanwhile be 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 finally will see 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.

Across-the-board the increases in weekly payments which will benefit over 1.5 million people.

The new measures are on top of the eight lump payments - already paid in October, November and December.

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, welcomed the changes secured as part of Budget 2023.

“These improvements will benefit hundreds of thousands of households and families right across the country, including our carers, pensioners, lone parents and people with disabilities.”