# Social Welfare

The government has announced a new cost-of-living package. Here's what's in it

The new cost-of-living measures were confirmed today.

A once-off €100 child benefit payment and a €200 lump sum for social welfare recipients will be paid out.

The State exam fees - for the Junior and Leaving Certificate - are again being waived.

The 9% VAT rate for hospitality and tourism will continue until 31 August.

83.4k

Feb 21st 2023, 12:24 PM

€100 child benefit bonus and €200 lump sum social welfare payment under cost-of-living measures

The social protection measures have running cost of €400 million.

133k

115

Updated

Feb 20th 2023, 11:50 PM

Upcoming cost-of-living package to contain 'social welfare and pensions' element

Ministers will meet this week to discuss the detail of what measures should be extended.

57.6k

Feb 12th 2023, 5:21 PM

# accommodation crisis

Ministers sign off on new €10m International Protection Fund to support community needs

The minister emphasised the need for urgent access to large-scale temporary facilities.

18.6k

Updated

Jan 31st 2023, 9:00 PM

Last year

2022

Proposed overhaul of jobseeker's benefit would directly link payment to previous earnings

Currently, recipients of the jobseeker’s benefit are categorised into one of four bands depending on their prior income.

29.8k

Dec 7th 2022, 3:44 PM

Voices

Dr Laura Bambrick: Why pay child benefit to wealthy parents?

The double Child Benefit payment has reopened a regular debate on whether we are wasting public money on wealthy parents, writes Dr Laura Bambrick.

27.6k

Nov 7th 2022, 8:00 PM

# Cabinet

Social welfare supports of €141.4m provided to Ukrainians this year

Department of Social Protection spending is 1.4% higher than profiled for this year.

25.0k

Nov 2nd 2022, 6:13 PM

# budget 2023

Ministers announce payment dates for social protection supports introduced in Budget

A double social welfare payment will be paid next week while a double Child Benefit payment will be paid at the start of next month.

46.1k

Updated

Oct 11th 2022, 11:00 AM

Core welfare payments increasing by €12 and plan for one-off double payments confirmed

A number of other social welfare measures were also announced.

There will be a double payment of child benefit paid out in November.

The Fuel Allowance is set to have it's means test ceiling raised, alongside a €400 lump sum.

The total package is worth €2.2 billion.

78.1k

Updated

Sep 27th 2022, 8:26 PM

'Our citizens need help': Everything you need to know about Budget 2023

The Government has confirmed a range of measures including tax band changes, electricity credits and social welfare increases.

133k

141

Updated

Sep 27th 2022, 6:32 PM

# Leo Varadkar

'I don't say it lightly': Housing crisis is a breach in the social contract, says Tánaiste

In an exclusive interview, Leo Varadkar also indicated the minimum wage is to increase.

Varadkar says the Government needs to have "another go" at fixing the housing crisis

Renters need more help, declares Tánaiste

However, Budget 2023 will not have all the solutions to fix property situation

66.1k

107

Updated

Aug 19th 2022, 12:59 PM

€22.7 million paid out so far this year on emergency social welfare payments

The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the additional needs payment this year.

16.8k

Aug 17th 2022, 6:59 PM

# Age Action

Call for all social welfare payments to be increased by €20 as older people 'turn off heating'

Age Action said the State Pension should be increased by at least €23 in the Budget.

27.7k

Aug 16th 2022, 11:35 AM

Jump in emergency welfare payments reflects what's happening on the ground for families, says SVP

Sinn Féin’s Social Protection, Claire Kerrane says people should be able to apply for the payment online, rather than by post or in person.

18.4k

Aug 14th 2022, 12:00 PM

Employees who are forced to self-isolate due to monkeypox advised to apply for Illness Benefit

Financial supports may available to those who contract the virus.

13.0k

Aug 13th 2022, 6:00 AM

# inflation crisis

17,000 apply for emergency social welfare payments for food, fuel and clothing in July alone

The number of applications has been rising month-on-month in light of the cost-of-living crisis.

27.3k

Aug 6th 2022, 7:30 AM

# budget 2023

Help for renters, pension and social welfare increases as 'more room to manoeuvre' in Budget

Taoiseach said renters “will be considered” in October’s budget.

34.1k

Jun 21st 2022, 6:26 PM

# Compassion

Carer told to repay social welfare payment after teen son's death calls for system reform

The proposal would prevent family carers from being immediately cut off from supports if a disabled child dies at age 16 or older.

A carer is calling on the government to close a gap in the social welfare system upon the death of a disabled child aged 16 or over.

Tracy McGinnis lost her son Brendan Bjorn, aged 17, last month, and was ordered to refund a social welfare payment.

Care Alliance Ireland said carers who lose a child go through a "really difficult transition period", Lauren Boland reports.

35.9k

Jun 14th 2022, 12:05 AM

Warning over linking unemployment benefits to previous earnings

The Economic and Social Research Institute said the move would give rise to weaker financial work incentives unless capped or time-limited.

31.4k

Jun 10th 2022, 12:11 PM

# budget 2023

Ryan signals need for social welfare and tax changes to get country through 'very difficult period'

Taoiseach has said there will be “a challenging number of months ahead with the cost of living”.

28.8k

Jun 2nd 2022, 12:46 PM

# Grant

Treatment Benefit Scheme for dental works, hearing aids and glasses extended by 80,000 people

The amount of PRSI contributions necessary for young people to qualify has been significantly reduced.

30.4k

May 30th 2022, 11:27 AM

# rent a room

Up to €14,000 can be earned in rent by social welfare recipients under newly agreed rules

The change means that social welfare payments will not be impacted for earning rental income under €14,000.

50.5k

May 19th 2022, 3:23 PM

# Inflation

Targeted welfare payments would ease cost of living pressure on lower-income workers, experts say

The Government is to unveil a “substantial” package of measures tomorrow, the Tánaiste told Fine Gael TDs.

39.4k

Updated

Feb 9th 2022, 9:14 PM

All time

# Social Protection

Christmas payment will be paid to 1.4 million social welfare recipients next week

The cost of this year’s Christmas payment will be €313 million.

42.7k

Dec 1st 2021, 10:18 AM

# PUP

No plans for rollback of cuts to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates

From today, the €250 PUP rate will reduce to €203 per week.

42.0k

Updated

Nov 16th 2021, 7:13 PM

Voices

Opinion: Rising energy costs this winter are now a major concern for low-income households

Issy Petrie from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul says the government must act now to prevent people slipping in to poverty this winter.

18.4k

Oct 24th 2021, 8:30 AM

State pension and core social welfare payments to increase by €5 per week

A range of other social welfare increases was announced.

This will bring the full State pension to €253.30 per week.

A €5 increase to the Fuel Allowance comes into effect from midnight.

The Living Alone Allowance will also increase by €3 per week.

33.2k

Oct 12th 2021, 2:48 PM

# Fine Gael Think-In

Pension and social welfare payment rises on the cards for next month's Budget

The Social Protection Minister said ‘very difficult decisions’ around the State pension will have to be made.

46.8k

Sep 13th 2021, 4:45 PM

# live events

Music industry warns of 'ticking time bomb' as PUP cuts set to kick in next month

Today the Cabinet sub-committee is meeting to discuss the roadmap for the next phase of reopening.

10.1k

Aug 27th 2021, 3:15 PM

New unemployment payment linked to past working history pushed out to 2023

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said today that the plans will not be included in Budget 2022.

38.4k

Jul 12th 2021, 4:31 PM

Child benefit instalment unpaid for older teenagers due to delay with forms

Several families who expected to be given the payment this week have not received it.

27.1k

Jul 7th 2021, 9:30 PM

Tánaiste expects number of PUP recipients to fall to a third of current level by end of the year

The payment is due to be abolished next February.

8.6k

Jun 1st 2021, 11:13 PM

Government plans to link unemployment payments to past working history and PRSI contributions

With the phasing out of the PUP, government is keen to bring in pay-related unemployment payments.

43.9k

Jun 1st 2021, 5:22 PM

New weekly payment of €203 introduced for 65-year-olds after rise of pension age

A person in receipt of this payment will not be required to be available for full-time work.

162k

Feb 8th 2021, 7:27 AM

# Looking forwad

Which Budget changes kick in from tomorrow?

Many changes for Budget 2021 kick in next month.

41.4k

Dec 31st 2020, 6:00 AM

# PUP

Self-employed people allowed earn €960 over two months without losing their Pandemic Unemployment Payment

The move aims to help those who want to take up occasional intermittent work without losing their payment,

72.1k

Dec 9th 2020, 4:44 PM

# Out of work

The largest cohort on the PUP right now? Workers in accommodation and food services

Over 102,321 people in the sector are on the payment.

36.5k

Dec 3rd 2020, 6:30 AM