Thousands of social welfare recipients had their payments impacted by the Christmas period, and there is just one more date to be aware of as New Year’s Eve will change the usual payment schedule.
While there was no change to payments made on the week of December 19, there was an advanced payment made for the following week.
According to the Department of Social Protection, changes would apply to those who collect payment from the post office, those who are sent cheques and those who get payments sent to their bank accounts as a result of Christmas and the New Year.
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The revised payment dates were issued by the department and were as follows:
- Payment due: December 19, 20, 21 - No change
- Payment due: December 22 - Paid out: December 21
- Payment due: December 23 - Paid out: December 22
However, the final change to the schedule will take place this week, ahead of New Year’s Eve this weekend.
Social welfare payments due on January 2, 2023, will be sent or made available from Friday, December 30, 2022.
Weekly payments will then go back to normal from January 3, 2023.
As things get back to their regular patterns, there are also a number of other new changes coming into effect from the New Year.
A host of Budget 2023 schemes will finally come into force with social welfare recipients in for hikes.
Households will receive two further energy credits of €200 each in the New Year to help heat their homes over winter - one in January and the second in March.
The minimum wage will rise by 80c to €11.30 per hour.
All social welfare recipients will see an increase of €12 per week, in January, which amounts to €624 across the year.
There will also be increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment in January. Those aged 25 and under who are getting a reduced rate of Jobseeker's Allowance will also get the full €12 increase.
The weekly rate for a qualified child will increase by €2 bringing the new amount to €42 a week for children under 12 years and €50 a week for children aged 12 years and over.
The Fuel Allowance income threshold will increase in January from €120 to €200 above the applicable State Pension (Contributory) rate for people aged 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.
Disablement Benefit and half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance.
The income limits for the Working Family Payment will increase by €40 across all family sizes in the New Year.
The amount that those getting the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension can earn without their payment being affected will rise from €140 to €165 in January.
The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) will rise by €20.50 from €309.50 to €330 in the New Year. DCA will also be available for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth for a period of 6 months.
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