# Social Welfare
This year
2023
# rent a room
Measures to allow social welfare recipients to earn up to €14k a year in rent being extended
Under the measures, social welfare payments are not impacted for earning rental income under €14,000.
# Cost of Living
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.
# Cost of Living
€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.
# Cost of Living
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.
# 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.
Last year
2022
# Social Welfare
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.
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.
# 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.
# 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.
# Welfare
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.
# Cost of Living
'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.
# 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
# Cost of Living
€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.
# 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.
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.
# Welfare
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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# Social Welfare
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.
# 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”.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
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.
# 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.
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.
# Welfare
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.
# 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.
# 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.
# Social Welfare
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.
# Welfare
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.
# Social Welfare
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.
# Social Welfare
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.
# Social Welfare
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.
# Looking forwad
Which Budget changes kick in from tomorrow?
Many changes for Budget 2021 kick in next month.
# 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,
# 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.
# Social Welfare
Christmas Bonus will be paid to over 1.6 million people in early December
The bonus will be paid in the week beginning 7 December.
# PUP
Over 340,000 receive Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week as total spend on scheme tops €4 billion
The minister for social protection said the rise in the number of PUP recipients was expected given the Level 5 restrictions in place.
