Social welfare rates look set to receive a boost in the upcoming Budget, with 29 groups in line for a welcome increase.
While the new measures won’t be confirmed until next month, huge numbers are in line to see their weekly payments rise.
If the government decides to increase rates, it will likely follow a similar path to last year’s Budget.
There have been calls to boost core rates by around €10 to €15 a week, with millions of recipients potentially benefiting.
Budget 2026 did not see any cost-of-living package with one-off payments and bonuses, though social welfare payments did increase by €10.
If the same boosts are given this year, the benefited groups will be:
State Pension (Contributory),
State Pension (Non-Contributory),
Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension,
Bereaved Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension,
Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance,
One-Parent Family Payment,
Maternity Benefit,
Adoptive Benefit,
Paternity Benefit,
Parent’s Benefit,
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
The Domiciliary Care Allowance, a monthly payment, also rose by €20 per month in Budget 2026.
The Child Support Payment also increased, with the full weekly rate for children under 12 increasing from €50 to €58 and the half rate rising from €25 to €29.
The full rate for children aged 12 and over climbed from €62 to €78 per week, while the half rate went from €31 to €39.
Meanwhile, the weekly rate for the Fuel Allowance was boosted from €33 to €38.
Budget 2027 is also expected to see the Christmas bonus return, which would give those receiving social welfare payments a double week’s payment in December.
While the government has ruled out an increase to Child Benefit, it has not yet formally announced any concrete social protection measures.
