Press release
Minister Humphreys announces payment details for €200 cost of living lump sum payment
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has today announced that a €200 lump sum payment to support with the cost of living will be paid to over 1.3 million people in the week commencing Monday 24 April.
The payment will be made to groups such as pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents, widows and widowers and will be paid in addition to their normal weekly payment.
The €200 lump sum payment will also be paid to people who receive the Working Family Payment and who have not received the lump sum on their primary payment.
This payment is part of a package of measures secured by Minister Humphreys in February and is in addition to the €2.2 billion of supports provided for in Budget 2023.
Announcing the payment details today, Minister Humphreys said:
“The cost of living pressures are continuing to affect people right across this country.
“In February, I was delighted to secure government approval for over €410 million in additional supports to be paid to families in the coming months. This €200 lump sum payment is the first of these measures and will be followed in June by an extra €100 per child for people receiving Child Benefit.
“Parents who receive the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will also get an additional €100 for each child this summer.
“This package of measures, in addition to the €2.2 billion of supports secured as part of Budget 2023, underlines our continued commitment to address the increased cost of living being experienced by our citizens.
“From the very start of this difficult period, the Department of Social Protection has never been found wanting.
“And so, I’m pleased today to announce the details of this additional support, which I know will benefit so many families in towns and villages nationwide.”
In February, Government announced a new €1.2 billion cost of living package prioritising support for the most vulnerable. This €200 lump sum payment is part of the Social Protection measures totalling €410 million, which also includes:
Minister Humphreys concluded:
“These measures are another demonstration of the government’s commitment to assisting with the increase in the cost of living. This shows that, even a few months after introducing the largest Social Protection Budget in the State’s history, we will continue to respond in order to protect those most in need.”
The €200 lump sum payment will be paid in the week commencing 24 April to people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. It will be paid to primary recipients of the payments who receive the Christmas Bonus. It will also be paid to people who receive the Working Family Payment and who have not received the lump sum on their primary payment.
People will receive their €200 lump sum payment on the same day that they usually receive their primary payment. Eligible individuals will receive one lump sum payment.
| Scheme | Estimated recipients |
| State Pension Non-Contributory | 98,000 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | 60,000 |
| One Parent Family Payment | 41,000 |
| Widow(er)s' Pension Non-Contributory | 1,000 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 3,100 |
| Daily Expenses Allowance | 3,000 |
| Farm Assist | 4,500 |
| Community Employment | 18,600 |
| Rural Social Scheme | 2,800 |
| Job Initiative | 6,200 |
| TUS | 5,000 |
| Back to Work Enterprise Allowance | 2,300 |
| Back to Education Allowance | 3,600 |
| Back to Work Family Dividend | 2,900 |
| Disability Allowance | 158,000 |
| Blind Pension | 1,000 |
| Carer's Allowance | 50,000 |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 50,000 |
| Working Family Payment | 39,000 |
| Illness Benefit (>12 months) | 17,000 |
| Jobseekers Benefit (> 12 months) | 15,000 |
| Jobseekers Benefit Self Employed | 1,000 |
| State Pension (Contributory) | 512,600 |
| Widow(er)s' Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Con) | 124,800 |
| Occupational Injuries Death Benefit | 700 |
| Deserted Wife's Benefit | 4,400 |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 3,100 |
| Invalidity Pension | 56,700 |
| Disablement Benefit | 13,800 |
| Carer's Benefit | 3,500 |
| Guardian's Payment (Contributory) | 1,100 |