Budget 2025

The largest social welfare package in the history of the State providing €2.6 billion to assist households.

Read the full press release.

The October cost of living bonus will be paid this year to more than 1.38 million people on primary weekly payments, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents. The bonus will be paid in the week commencing 28 October 2024.

Those receiving the Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment will get the bonus on the 14 November 2024.

The October bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus in December. If you are getting a primary weekly payment, (these are all of the main payments from the Department of Social Protection), you will get a 100% increase in your weekly rate of payment.

The Living Alone Increase, the Increase for Living on a Specified Island and the Over-80 Increase are not primary weekly payments. These payments are increases to weekly payments for those that are eligible to get them. If you get these increases, the increase will be doubled along with your primary payment.

Alert on scam phone calls and scam text messages

Following the Budget 2025 announcement there may be an increase in fraudulent texts or calls asking people to register for the lump sums and double payments. If you are entitled to a lump sum or double payment, these will be automatically paid and you do not need to apply for it. Read more on our alert on scam phone calls and scam text messages

• €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households getting Fuel Allowance
• €200 cost of living lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting the Working Family Payment to be paid in November 2024
• double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024 to support all families with children
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting Carer's Support Grant*
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension*
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024
• October cost of living bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus to groups including pensioners, carers, lone parents, people on disability payment, long-term jobseeker recipients
• Christmas bonus will be paid to 1.3 million social welfare recipients

• €12 increase in most weekly social welfare payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
• €15 increase in Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit,Adoptive Benefit and Parent's Benefit from January 2025
• weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025. This means an annual payment of up to €3,224 for a child aged 12 and over, and up to €2,600 for a child aged under 12 (if they are eligible to get the increase on a primary payment) for a full year
• Newborn Baby Grant of €280 in addition to the first month of Child Benefit(€140) for children born on or after 1 December 2024
• the income thresholds for the Working Family Payment will increase by €60 a week regardless of family size from January 2025
• extend the Hot School Meals to all remaining primary schools on a phased basis from April 2025
• School Meals Holiday Hunger pilot project will start in summer 2025
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting the Working Family Payment to be paid in November 2024
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024
• double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024
• October 2024 cost of living bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus
• Christmas bonus to be paid in December 2024

• €12 increase in most weekly social welfare payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
• €15 increase in Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit,Adoptive Benefit and Parent's Benefit from January 2025
• weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025. This means an annual payment of up to €3,224 for a child aged 12 and over, and up to €2,600 for a child aged under 12 (if they are eligible to get the increase on a primary payment) for a full year
• Newborn Baby Grant of €280 in addition to the first month of Child Benefit(€140) for children born on or after 1 December 2024
• the income thresholds for the Working Family Payment will increase by €60 a week regardless of family size from January 2025
• extend the Hot School Meals to all remaining primary schools on a phased basis from April 2025
• School Meals Holiday Hunger pilot project will start in summer 2025
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting the Working Family Payment to be paid in November 2024
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024
• double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024
• October 2024 cost of living bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus
• Christmas bonus to be paid in December 2024

• €12 increase in the maximum rate of the Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit. from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate
• weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025. This means an annual payment of up to €3,224 for a child aged 12 and over, and up to €2,600 for a child aged under 12 (if they are eligible to get the increase on a primary payment) for a full year
• increase in the Carer's Allowance income disregard to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple from July 2025
• extend Carer's Benefit to people who are self-employed from January 2025
• €150 increase in the Carer's Support Grant paid annually in June
• Carer's Allowance will become a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance from January 2025, subject to meeting all criteria of the Fuel Allowance scheme, including satisfying the Fuel Allowance means test
• €20 increase a month in Domiciliary Care Allowance from January 2025
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting Carer's Support Grant* to be paid in November 2024
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024
• double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024
• October 2024 cost of living bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus
• Christmas bonus to be paid in December 2024

• €12 increase in most weekly social welfare payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
• the amount not taken into account when you sell your home to move into care will increase to €337,500 from January 2025 for those who get State Pension (Non-contributory), or Disability Allowanceor Blind Pension
• means test disregard for Fuel Allowance extended to those aged 66 and over from January 2025 - €524 (single person) and €1,048 (couple) meaning more people will qualify for this support
• Free Travel Scheme Companion Pass for all those aged over 70 from September 2025
• €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households getting Fuel Allowance to be paid in November 2024
• €200 cost of living lump sum payment to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase to be paid in November 2024
• October cost of living bonus for pensioners
• Christmas bonus to be paid in December 2024

• €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate
• the amount not taken into account when you sell your home to move into care will increase to €337,500 from January 2025 for those who get State Pension (Non-contributory), or Disability Allowanceor Blind Pension
• €20 increase a month in Domiciliary Care Allowance from January 2025
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people gettingDisability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension* to be paid in November 2024
• €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households getting Fuel Allowance to be paid in November 2024
• €200 cost of living lump sum payment to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase to be paid in November 2024
• October 2024 cost of living bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus
• Christmas bonus to all persons getting a long-term disability payment to be paid in December 2024

• €12 increase in most weekly social welfare payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
• €15 increase in Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefitand Parent's Benefitfrom January 2025
• weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025. This means an annual payment of up to €3,224 for a child aged 12 and over, and up to €2,600 for a child aged under 12 (if they are eligible to get the increase on a primary payment) for a full year
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting the Working Family Payment in November 2024
• double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024
• Newborn Baby Grant of €280 in addition to the first month of Child Benefit(€140) for children born on or after 1 December 2024
• the income thresholds for the Working Family Payment will increase by €60 a week regardless of family size from January 2025
• €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households gettingFuel Allowanceto be paid in November 2024
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024
• extend the Hot School Meals to all remaining primary schools on a phased basis from April 2025
• School Meals Holiday Hunger pilot project will start in summer 2025
• October 2024 cost of living bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus
• Christmas bonus to be paid in December 2024

• introduction of the Auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme from 30 September 2025, helping almost 800,000 workers save for their retirement

• increase of €12 in maximum personal weekly rate of jobseekers’ payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
• weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025. This means an annual payment of up to €3,224 for a child aged 12 and over, and up to €2,600 for a child aged under 12 (if they are eligible to get the increase on a primary payment) for a full year
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024
• double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024
• October 2024 cost of living bonus paid on the same basis as the Christmas bonus
• Christmas bonus to all people getting a long-term jobseeker payment
• introduction of the Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit Scheme from 31 March 2025

The Christmas bonus will be paid to those getting a long-term social welfare payment in December 2024. This year, the Christmas bonus has been extended to those who have been getting Illness Benefit for 12 months or longer.

People who are getting the following payments will get the Christmas bonus.

• Back to Education Allowance
• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
• Back to Work Family Dividend
• Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment
• Blind Pension
• Carer's Allowance
• Carer's Benefit
• Community Employment
• Daily Expenses Allowance (long term)
• Deserted Wife's Allowance
• Deserted Wife's Benefit
• Disability Allowance
• Disablement Benefit
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Farm Assist
• Guardian's Payment
• Illness Benefit (long -term)
• Invalidity Pension
• Job Initiative Scheme
• Jobseeker's Allowance (long term)
• Jobseeker's Transitional Payment
• Magdalen Commission Scheme
• Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Partial Capacity Benefit
• Rural Social Scheme
• State Pension (Contributory)
• State Pension (Non-contributory)
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance (long-term)
• Tús (community work placement initiative)
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
• Work Placement Experience Programme

Social insurance payments

• Previously known as ‘Increase for Qualified Child’

Social assistance payments

• Previously known as ‘Increase for Qualified Child’

Child Benefit

Employment programmes

An increase of €12 per week from January 2025 for those participating in the Community Employment Programme, Rural Social Scheme and Tús and a €24 increase for the Work Placement Experience Programme.

Working Family Payment Thresholds

Other Social Welfare Payments

State Pension Contributory

Michael is a pensioner in his seventies who lives alone. He receives the maximum State Pension Contributory (SPC), Michael currently receives a State Pension Contributory payment and the Living Alone Allowance, totalling €299.30 per week, plus the seasonal Fuel Allowance of €33 per week.

Familes and Children

Patrick and Alex have three children aged 14, 12 and 8. They currently receive the Working Family Payment (WFP) as well as Child Benefit for their three children.

WFP is 60% of the difference between average weekly family income and the WFP threshold.

WFP weekly income limit will increase by €60 in 2025 regardless of family size.

One-Parent Families

Julia is a lone parent with two children aged four and six.

Julia currently receives the maximum One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) with increases for her children which total €324, plus the seasonal Fuel Allowance of €33 per week.

Carers

Orla has two children, aged 13 and 8 and is a carer for one of her children.

Orla currently receives Carer’s Allowance with increases for her children which total €348 per week.

Her weekly Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) has increased by €8 for her older child and €4 for her younger child.

People with disabilities

Lucas is 28 and lives alone. He has a disability.

Lucas currently receives Disability and Living Alone Allowances, which total €254. He also receives the seasonal Fuel Allowance of €33 per week.

Pensions

Robert and Anne are in their seventies. Robert receives the maximum State Pension Contributory (SPC) with an increase for Anne. They currently receive a weekly rate of €525.90 (€277.30 + €248.60) and a seasonal Fuel Allowance of €33 per week.