As the new year enters, individuals on social welfare in Ireland have reason to celebrate with a one-time double-week payment set to be disbursed in the week beginning January 29, 2024. This additional payment is extended to those who qualified for the Christmas Bonus.
Furthermore, there will be a noteworthy increase of €12 in the maximum rate of all weekly social welfare payments, with proportional raises for individuals on reduced rates. This adjustment also encompasses recipients of Community Employment (CE), Tús, and Rural Social Schemes.
Qualified child payments will see an increment of €4 weekly, raising the rate for children under 12 from €42 to €46 and for those 12 or over from €50 to €54. Notably, Child Benefit will be extended to children aged 18 in full-time education from September 2024.
Households will receive two additional energy credits of €150 each in the coming year, with one arriving in January and the other in March. Income limits for individuals receiving the Working Family Payment will see an increase of €54 for all family sizes starting in January 2024.
The monthly rate of care allowance is set to rise by €10 to reach €340 per month. Moreover, there will be hikes in the weekly state pension, deserted wife’s allowance, and one-parent family payments, each experiencing an increase of approximately €11 to €12 in their maximum weekly rates.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys expressed her satisfaction with the measures, highlighting that the €980 million worth of payment increases are part of the largest Social Protection Budget package in the history of the state. These adjustments aim to benefit a wide range of recipients, including carers, pensioners, lone parents, and individuals with disabilities, providing financial relief amidst ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
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