One social welfare Ireland group excluded from lump sum double payment due in weeks

Budget 2025 was announced on Tuesday, which contains a €1.2 billion social welfare package “targeted to those with the greatest need”, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe announced.

It includes a €12 increase to weekly social welfare payments. In addition, the carer’s allowance means test disregard for a single person has been doubled to €1,250, while the carer’s support grant has increased by €150 to €2,000.

Parent’s payments have increased by €15 while the increase for a qualified child weekly rates have gone up by €4 for under 12s and by €8 for over 12s. Minster Donohoe also announced a “baby boost” payment, where parents of a newborn are given an additional double child benefit payment in the first month of the baby’s life.

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The Minister also said there will be double lump sum social welfare payments for 1.4 million people, coming this month. People in receipt of various social welfare payments will get a cost of living bonus later this month.

Here's everything you need to know about who can and can't claim and how to do it.

Who gets the October double social welfare payment?

If the payment operates the same as Budget 2024's double week, which was paid in January, the same groups who are eligible for the Christmas bonus will likely get the October double week lump sum.

These are:

Back to Education Allowance - people coming from jobseeker's payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use your time on your jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance - people coming from jobseeker's payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use time on jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify Back to Work Family Dividend Benefit payment for 65 year olds Blind Pension Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit (including half-rate Carer's Allowance) Community Employment Deserted Wife's Allowance and Deserted Wife's Benefit Daily Expenses Allowance, formerly called Direct Provision Allowance for 12 months Disability Allowance Disablement Benefit Domiciliary Care Allowance Farm Assist Guardian's Payment (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory) Illness Benefit for 12 months or more (will be paid between 5 December 2023 and 22 December 2023) Invalidity Pension Job Initiative Scheme Jobseeker's Allowance for 12 months (312 days or more) Jobseeker's Transitional payment Magdalene Commission Scheme Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme) One-Parent Family Payment Partial Capacity Benefit Rural Social Scheme State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) Supplementary Welfare Allowance for 12 months (364 days or more) Tús Widow, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory) Work Placement Experience Programme (if your primary payment is a qualifying social welfare payment)

Fuel Allowance is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus.

One excluded group

Those in receipt of Fuel Allowance generally do not get a double social welfare payment. However, it's not all bad news as there will be a €300 Fuel Allowance Payment lump sum in November.

Meanwhile, Budget 2025 also agreed to reduce the age criteria for the Fuel Allowance means test from 70 to 66, which will take effect from January 2025.

How to claim

If you are eligible, the double payment will be paid automatically alongside your usual payment.

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