Budget 2024
INOU view on Budget 2024
Read the INOU's Budget 2024 'At a Glance' article - click here
Download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet - Click Here
Contents
Table of Contents
Main Cost of Living Measures - Budget 2024
- €300 cost of living lump sum to all households getting the Fuel Allowance
- €200 cost of living lump sum for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase
- €400 cost of living lump sum to all families getting the Working Family Payment
- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children
- €400 cost of living lump sum for people getting the Carer's Support Grant*
- €400 cost of living lump sum for people getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension or Invalidity Pension*
- €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child)
- Christmas Bonus will be paid to 1.3 million welfare recipients including pensioners, carers, and people with disabilities
- January cost of living bonus will be paid to most people who get a weekly social welfare payment including all pensioners, carers, and people on disability payments
* The once off payment of €400 to people getting Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension and/or Carer’s Support Grant, is only payable in respect of one payment, even if you qualify for more than one of the payments or are caring for more than one person.
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
Supports for Jobseekers
- an increase of €12 in maximum personal weekly rate of jobseekers’ payments from January 2024. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
- weekly rates of qualified child payments will increase by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over, and €46 for under 12s
- €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child)
- Christmas Bonus to all people getting a long-term jobseeker payment
- January cost of living bonus for recipients of a long-term jobseeker payment, to be paid in 2024
- introduction of the Pay-Related Benefit Scheme for jobseekers in December 2024, subject to Government approval and pending final scheme design
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
Supports for pensioners
- €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State pensions from January 2024. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate
- €300 cost of living lump sum for those getting the Fuel Allowance, to be paid in November 2023
- €200 cost of living lump sum to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase
- Christmas Bonus to be paid in December 2023
- January cost of living bonus for pensioners to be paid in 2024
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
Supports for families and children
- €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments from January 2024. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
- weekly rates of qualified child payments will increase by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over, and €46 for under 12s
- €400 cost of living lump sum paid to all families getting the Working Family Payment
- €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child)
- income thresholds for the Working Family Payment will increase by €54 per week regardless of family size from January 2024
- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families to be paid in December 2023
- extend Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full time education, from September 2024
- extend Hot School Meals on a phased basis in 2024 to all non-DEIS primary schools who applied as part of the expression of interest
- extend Parent's Benefit from 7 weeks to 9 weeks in August 2024
- Christmas Bonus to be paid in December 2023
- January cost of living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment, to be paid in 2024
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
Supports to address child poverty
- €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments from January 2024. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
- weekly rates of qualified child payments will increase by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over, and €46 for under 12s
- €400 cost of living lump sum paid to all families getting the Working Family Payment
- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families to be paid in December 2023
- extend Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full time education, from September 2024
- extend Hot School Meals, on a phased basis in 2024, to all non-DEIS primary schools who applied as part of the expression of interest
- the income thresholds for the Working Family Payment will increase by €54 per week regardless of family size from January 2024
- €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child)
- Christmas Bonus to be paid in December 2023
- January cost of living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment, to be paid in 2024
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
Supports for carers
- increase in the Carer's Allowance income disregard to €450 for a single person and €900 for a couple
- €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting Carer's Support Grant*
- from January 2024 there will be a €12 increase in the maximum rate of the Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate
- weekly rates of qualified child payments will increase by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over, and €46 for under 12s
- €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child)
- Christmas Bonus double payment to be paid in December 2023
- January cost of living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment, to be paid in 2024
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
Supports for people with disabilities
- additional funding to include provision for Free Travel Scheme for those medically certified unfit to drive
- reduce the minimum weekly hours threshold from 21 to 15 hours for employers to avail of the Wage Subsidy Scheme
- increase in the Carer's Allowance income disregard to €450 for a single person and €900 for a couple
- €400 cost of living lump sum will be paid to people getting a Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension *
- €300 cost of living lump sum for those getting the Fuel Allowance, to be paid in November 2023
- €200 cost of living lump sum to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase
- Christmas Bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment
- from January 2024 there will be an increase of €12 in maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate
- January cost of living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment, to be paid in January 2024
- Domiciliary Care Allowance to increase by €10 a month from January 2024
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
Supports for lone parents
- €400 cost of living lump sum to all families getting the Working Family Payment paid in November 2023
- double payment of Child Benefit to support all families to be paid in December 2023
- extend Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full time education, from September 2024
- extend Hot School Meals, on a phased basis in 2024, to all non-DEIS primary schools who applied as part of the expression of interest
- weekly rates of qualified child payments will increase by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over and €46 for under 12s
- extend Parent's Benefit from 7 weeks to 9 weeks in August 2024
- €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments from January 2024. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate
- the income thresholds for the Working Family Payment will increase by €54 per week regardless of family size from January 2024
- €300 cost of living lump sum for those getting the Fuel Allowance, to be paid in November 2023
- €100 cost of living lump sum for people getting an Increase for a Qualified Child (to be paid per qualified child)
- Christmas Bonus to be paid in December 2023
- January cost of living bonus for people getting a weekly social welfare payment, to be paid in January 2024
* The once off payment of €400 to people getting Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension and/or Carer’s Support Grant, is only payable in respect of one payment, even if you qualify for more than one of the payments or are caring for more than one person.
- Click Here to download the INOU's Budget 2024 FactSheet
All figures below for Budget 2024
Maximum weekly rate (from January 2024) | Personal Rate | Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) | Increase for a Qualified Child Under 12 | Increase for a Qualified Child Aged 12+ |
Social Insurance Payments | € | € | € | € |
State Pension (Contributory) |
| |||
- Personal Rate - Under 80 | 277.30 | See IQA Below | 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Personal Rate - Aged 80 and over | 287.30 | See IQA Below | 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Increase for Qualified Adult - Under 66 |
| 184.70 |
|
|
- Increase for Qualified Adult - 66 and over |
| 248.60 |
|
|
Widow’s / Widower’s / Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension / Deserted Wife’s Benefit |
| |||
- Under 66 | 237.50 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Aged 66 and under 80 | 277.30 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Aged 80 and over | 287.30 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
Invalidity Pension | 237.50 | 169.70 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
Carer’s Benefit | 249.00 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
Disablement Benefit | 263.00 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
Jobseeker’s / Illness / Health and Safety / Injury Benefit | 232.00 | 154.00 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
Maternity / Paternity / Adoptive / Parent’s Benefit | 274.00 |
|
|
|
Death Benefit |
|
|
|
|
- Under 66 | 262.50 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Aged 66 and under 80 | 281.70 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Aged 80 and over | 291.70 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
Maximum weekly rate (from January 2024) | Personal Rate | Increase for a Qualified Adult | Increase for a Qualified Child Under 12 | Increase for a Qualified Child Aged 12+ |
Social Assistance Payments | € | € | € | € |
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
|
|
|
|
– Aged 66 and under 80 | 266.00 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Aged 80 and over | 276.00 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Increase for Qualified Adult - Under 66 |
| 175.70 |
|
|
Carer’s Allowance |
|
|
|
|
- Under 66 | 248.00 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Aged 66 and over | 286.00 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
Disability Allowance / Blind Pension | 232.00 | 154.00 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
Widow’s / Widower’s / Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension | 232.00 |
|
|
|
One-Parent Family Payment / Deserted Wife’s Allowance | 232.00 |
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
Farm Assist | 232.00 | 154.00 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
|
| 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Under 25 | 141.70 | 141.70 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Aged 25 and over | 232.00 | 154.00 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
|
|
|
|
- Under 25 living independently with State support | 230.00 | 154.00 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
- Under 25 not living independently | 141.70 | 141.70 |
|
|
– Aged 25 and over | 230.00 | 154.00 | 46.00 | 54.00 |
Child Benefit | 2024 Rate |
Monthly Rate | €140 per child |
Twins – Child Benefit is paid at one and half times the normal monthly rate for each child. All other multiple births – Child Benefit is paid at double the normal monthly rate for each child. | |
Employment Programmes |
|
An increase of €12 per week from January 2024 for those participating in the Work Placement Experience Programme, Community Employment Programme, Rural Social Scheme and Tús. | |
Working Family Payment Thresholds | 2024 Weekly Income Limit |
1 Child | €645 |
2 Children | €746 |
3 Children | €847 |
4 Children | €938 |
5 Children | €1,064 |
6 Children | €1,180 |
7 Children | €1,316 |
8 Children or more | €1,412 |
Other Social Welfare Payments | 2024 Rate | Frequency |
Guardian’s Payment (Con/Non-Con) | €215 | Weekly Rate |
Fuel Allowance | €33 | Weekly Rate |
Living Alone Allowance | €22 | Weekly Rate |
Island Allowance (specified offshore islands) | €20 | Weekly Rate |
Domiciliary Care Allowance | €340 | Monthly Rate |
Carer’s Support Grant | €1,850 | Annual Rate |
Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant | €8,000 | Once-off payment |
- Advocacy Services
- Social Welfare Appeals
- Jobseekers Allowance (JA)
- Jobseekers Benefit (JB)
- Jobseekers Benefit Self-Employed (JBSE)
- Jobseekers Transition (JST)
- Back to Work Supports
- Other Social Welfare payments
- Supplementary Welfare (SWA)
- Work Experience Options
- Other Benefits and Supports
- Budget 2025