Several social welfare changes have come into effect this month but there are still more Budget 2025 measures on the cards for January.
Between rule changes and payment increases, people should be aware of all the schemes affected and when the changes will be seen.
Several benefit payments will see changes to how they are doled out to people across Ireland including social welfare, fuel allowance and employment programmes.
Social welfare increases
It was decided that the maximum weekly rate of Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Paternity Benefit and Parent’s Benefit will increase by €15, while all other weekly social welfare payments will increase by €12 with proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment. This came into effect from January 2025.
Here are all the payments being increased by €12, with proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment:
- State Pension (Contributory)
- State Pension (Non-Contributory)
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Jobseeker’s Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Health and Safety Benefit
- Farm Assist
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit
- Deserted Wife’s Allowance
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
- Illness Benefit
- Invalidity Pension
- Disability Allowance
- Blind Pension
- Injury Benefit
- Disablement Benefit
- Death Benefit Scheme
- Carer’s Benefit
- Carer’s Allowance
- Guardian’s payment
Working Family Payment
From January 2025, Working Family Payment income limits will be:
- The income limit for one child will go from €645 to €705
- The income limit for two children will go from €746 to €806
- The income limit for three children will go from €847 to €907
- The income limit for four children will go from €938 to €998
- The income limit for five children will go from €1,064 to €1,124
- The income limit for six children will go from €1,180 to €1,240
- The income limit for seven children will go from €1,316 to €1,376
- The income limit for eight children or more will go from €1,412 to €1,472
Fuel Allowance
From January 2025, The Fuel Allowance means test disregard for people aged 66 and over will be €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple. Carer’s Allowance will become a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.
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Employment programmes
People on Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme will get an increase of €12 per week. People on the Work Placement Experience Programme will get an increase of €24 per week. This came into effect from January 2025.
Means test
If you are getting the State Pension (Non-Contributory), Disability Allowance or Blind Pension, the amount not taken into account when you sell your home to move into care will increase from €190,500 to €337,500. This came into effect from January 2025.
Domiciliary Care Allowance
The Domiciliary Care Allowance will go from €340 per month to €360 per month, from January 2025.
Carer’s Support Grant
The Carer’s Support Grant, which is paid once a year, is now worth €2,000 instead of €1,850, from June 2025.
Child Support Payment
The Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) will be renamed the Child Support Payment. The weekly rate will increase by €4 from €46 to €50, for children under 12 years of age. It will increase by €8 from €54 to €62 for children aged 12 years and over. This came into effect from January 2025.
Carer’s Allowance
The Carer’s Allowance income disregard will increase to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple, from July 2025.
Carer’s Benefit
Carer’s Benefit will be extended to people who are self-employed, from January 2025.
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Free Travel Scheme
The Free Travel Scheme Companion Pass will be extended to all people aged over 70, from September 2025.
New Pay-Related Benefit Scheme
The introduction of Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit will start from 31 March 2025. Under the scheme, a person will get a jobseeker’s payment rate linked to their previous employment income.
Pension auto-enrolment
The introduction of the auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme will start from 30 September 2025.
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