Thousands of people in receipt of social welfare are expected to begin receiving up to €624 in social welfare payment boosts from January 2023.
There were several changes to social welfare payments, including a new double lump sum payment as well as the annual Christmas bonus, announced in the Budget in September.
It was confirmed that the those in receipt of all core social welfare payments will benefit from the boost.
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The change means the maximum rate of all weekly social welfare payments increases by €12 in January, which amounts to €624 across the year.
There will also be proportional increases for those on reduced rates of payment, and qualified adults.
For example, those under 25 that are receiving a decreased payment of Jobseeker's Allowance will receive the full €12 increase in the new year.
The weekly rate for a qualified child under 12 will also increase by €2 from €40 to €42, while those over the age of 12 will increase by €2 from €48 to €50.
The Fuel Allowance threshold is also set to increase from €120 to €200 above the applicable State Pension (Contributory) rate for people under 70.
Anyone aged 70 and over can qualify for Fuel Allowance as long as their weekly means (including State Pension) is not above €500 per week for a single person and €1,000 per week for a couple.
The payment increases come as the Christmas 'double payments' are set to be paid from December 19.
Social welfare recipients will also get the separate annual Christmas bonus.
Payments to families
People getting the Working Family Payment already received a once-off payment of €500 (November 2022).
The Working Family Payment income limits will increase by €40 across all family sizes (January 2023).
People getting Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be able to earn up to €165 from work without affecting their payment.
This is an increase of €25 on the previous threshold of €140 (January 2023).
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) will increase by €20.50 from €309.50 to €330 in January.
DCA will be available for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth for a period of 6 months (January 2023).
People on The Community Employment (CE), Tús and Rural Social Scheme top up payment will get an increase of €5 from €22.50 to €27.50.
The weekly income threshold for the higher rate of employer’s PRSI will increase from €410 to €441 to ensure that there is no incentive to reduce the working hours for a full-time employee on the increased minimum wage.
The income received from agri-environmental schemes disregarded in the means test for Farm Assist will increase from €2,540 to €5,000.
A pilot scheme will be developed and implemented to support people experiencing food poverty.
All domestic electricity customers are to get a €600 credit to help reduce electricity bills.
The credit will be paid in 3 instalments of €200. The first payment was made in November 2022.
The second electricity credit will be made in January 2023.
The third will be made in March 2023.
The 9% VAT rate for gas and electricity is extended to 28 February 2023.
The reduction of 21 cent per litre tax for petrol, 16 cent per litre for diesel and 5.4 cent per litre for Marked Gas Oil are also extended to 28 February 2023.
€340 million will be available to help community groups, schools, health services, sports clubs and other organisations to pay energy bills.
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