Social welfare: Four major payments coming next week - check if you qualify
Budget 2025 introduced a €1.2 billion social welfare package with targeted lump-sum cost-of-living payments. Starting November 4, qualifying recipients of the Working Family Payment, Disability Support Grant and Fuel Allowance will receive additional
Budget 2025 was announced earlier this month, and it contained a €1.2 billion social welfare package “targeted to those with the greatest need”, according to Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe.
This included a €12 increase to weekly social welfare payments, while parent’s payments increased by €15, and the increase for a qualified child weekly rates went up by €4 for under 12s and by €8 for over 12s.
In addition to these long-term increases, a series of 10 lump sum cost of living payments were also confirmed, the first of which has already arrived.
The October Bonus, a once-off double payment worth 100% of a recipient’s normal weekly amount, was issued last week.
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Next week, four more bonus payments will issued and you can check if you qualify below.
Working Family Payment
On Monday, November 4, a €400 payment to Working Family Payment (WFP) recipients will be issued. WFP is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children. It supports people who are on low pay.
You must be an employee to get WFP. 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% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the WFP income limit for your family size.
Disability Support Grant
Anyone who gets Disability Allowance will get a once-off payment of €400 on Monday, November 4. This will be issued even if you are getting another payment that qualifies for this once-off payment.
To qualify for Disability Allowance, you must:
- Have an injury, disease, or physical or mental disability that has continued for at least one year, or is expected to continue for at least one year
- Be substantially restricted from doing work because of your disability, that would be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications
- Be aged between 16 and 66
- Pass a means test
- Live in Ireland and meet the habitual residence condition.
Your doctor must complete a report on your medical condition as part of the application form. You can also get Disability Allowance if you are in hospital or residential care.
Fuel Allowance
On Monday, November 4, there will be a once-off payment of €300 to people getting Fuel Allowance. This will be paid on top of their weekly entitlement.
Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. It is paid to only one person in a household. The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 per week. You can choose to get the Fuel Allowance paid every week or paid in two lump sum installments.
To get Fuel Allowance you must:
- Live alone
- Be getting a qualifying payment (unless you are 70 or over)
- Satisfy a means test
In some cases, you may not live alone to avail of the payment. You can still be eligible if you live with:
- A spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who qualifies for an increase on your pension or social welfare payment or is getting a qualifying payment in their own right
- Dependent children
- A person who is getting Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and is caring for you or for your spouse, partner or cohabitant or qualified child dependant on a full-time basis
- A person getting short-term Jobseeker's Allowance or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance
- Other people who are getting a qualifying payment and who would be eligible for a Fuel Allowance in their own right
- A person aged 70 or over
You must also live in Ireland. You cannot get Fuel Allowance if your heating costs are provided in full as part of your accommodation.
Double Child Benefit
On Tuesday, November 5, the first of two double child benefit payments will be issued. This is €280 per child. The second payment will come on Tuesday, December 3.
To get Child Benefit, you must be living in Ireland and meet the Habitual Residence Condition. Your child must be under 16, or:
- Aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education or training
- Aged 16, 17 or 18, have a disability, and be unable to support themselves.
You cannot claim Child Benefit for a child in a detention facility.
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