Thousands of Irish families will receive a €500 cash boost on Thursday as part of the cost of living measures announced in Budget 2023.
The lump sum is aimed at providing additional support to those struggling with current rising costs such as energy bills, food and more.
Those in receipt of the Working Family Payment (WFP) will get a €500 lump sum on the day they usually receive the payment.
Working Family Payment is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children.
It supports people who are on low pay and was previously called Family Income Supplement (FIS).
To avail of the scheme, you must be an employee, and you cannot get it if you are self-employed only.
You must have at least one child who normally lives with you or who you support financially. Your child must be under 18 (or between 18 and 22 if they are in full-time day education).
To get WFP, your average weekly family income must be under a certain amount for your family size.
The WFP payment you get is 60 per cent of the difference between your average weekly family income and the WFP income limit for your family size.
WFP is not taken into account in the means test for a medical card, and in January 2023, the Working Family Payment income limits will increase by €40 across all family sizes.
Workers must meet the following conditions to avail of the payment:
- Work 38 or more hours per fortnight (in any combination of hours). You can combine your weekly hours with your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's hours to meet this condition. You cannot use time spent in self-employment (or on Community Employment, Tús, JobBridge or the Rural Social Scheme) to meet this condition.
- Your job is likely to last at least three months
- You have at least one child who normally lives with you
- You earn less than the WFP income limit set for your family size
You must be employed, pay tax and PRSI in the Irish State. Under EU regulations, you may be able to claim WFP if your children are living abroad and are dependent on you.
WFP is paid for one year (52 weeks) as long as you meet the conditions. It does not change if your earnings from work go up or down during that year. After 52 weeks, you can apply again for WFP. Some changes to your situation can affect your WFP – see below.
You can get the Working Family Payment if you are an apprentice as long as you meet the rules for getting WFP.
An apprenticeship usually alternates between off-the-job training in an education centre and on-the-job training at your employer's workplace. For the purposes of WFP, apprentices are considered to be in the employment of their employer while in both on-the-job and off-the-job training.
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