Many people who receive social welfare will see changes to their usual payment dates because of the upcoming February bank holiday.
Ireland’s first ever February bank holiday is just weeks away, after a new permanent one was announced last year to celebrate St Brigid's Day.
It will be held annually on the first Monday in February. St Brigid's Day, February 1, falls on a Wednesday this year, meaning the Bank Holiday will be given on Monday, February 6.
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Because of this, post offices, banks and Intreo centres will be closed on that day, meaning some social welfare recipients will see their payments arrive earlier than expected.
Payments due on Monday, February 6 will likely be paid early on Friday, February 3.
While payments due on Tuesday, February 7, which includes child benefit, will be paid as normal.
It comes as thousands of people benefited from Budget changes for 2023.
The Department of Social Protection budget allocation is €23.4 billion for this year.
Some of the changes for social welfare recipients, workers, carers and more, came into effect at the beginning of January.
Social Welfare payments
The maximum rate of all weekly social welfare payments increased by €12 ,with proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment.
People aged 25 and under who are getting a reduced rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance got the full €12 increase.
The weekly rate for a qualified child increased by €2 from €40 to €42 for children under 12 years of age and increased by €2 from €48 to €50 for children aged 12 years and over.
Fuel Allowance
The Fuel Allowance threshold increased 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.
Disablement Benefit and half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance.
Payments to families
The Working Family Payment income limits increased by €40 across all family sizes.
Disability and Illness benefits
People getting Disability Allowance and Blind Pension can now earn up to €165 from work without affecting their payment.
This is an increase of €25 on the previous threshold of €140.
Carers
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) increased by €20.50 from €309.50 to €330 in January.
DCA is available for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth for a period of six months.
Employment programmes
People on The Community Employment (CE), Tús and Rural Social Scheme top up payment got an increase of €5 from €22.50 to €27.50.
Workers
The weekly income threshold for the higher rate of employer’s PRSI increased 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.
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