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 Our Message 

  • Increases in social protection are ahead of price increases and additional payments will help one parent families, low-income working families and families with children and will significantly increase fuel-related payments.

  • The first ever dedicated cost of disability payment will support almost one quarter of a million people. It is an important start to a new approach which we promised last year.

  • The Switch analysis of social protection changes confirms that they will reduce the numbers at risk of poverty and contribute to our wider targeting of reducing child poverty – particularly when taken with actions in other areas.

 Key Measures 

  • Over €30 billion to be spent on Social Protection in 2027, a €2 billion increase on 2026 and up from €21.2 billion in 2020.

  • First ever Cost of Disability payment, starting with a lump sum payment of €500 in 2027 for people receiving a long-term disability payment. Further development of the payment will be co-designed with disabled people and their advocates.

  • €755 million to fund €10 per week increases across the board in scheme payments for Pensioners, Carers, Disabled People and Working Age recipients from January

  • €10 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State Pensions from January 2027. This means the State Pension (Contributory) will exceed €300 per week for the first time. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate.

  • Further increases in the Carer’s Allowance weekly income disregard, to €1,150 for a single person and €2,300 for a couple. Within the Government’s first two Budgets, the Carer’s Allowance disregard has increased by 84%. A couple earning €126,000 will now be able to get a full payment without being in any way affected by the means test

  •  Weekly Child Support Payments to rise by €6 per week. For a family with one child in primary school and one in secondary school, this will result in an increase of €624 next year

  • The Holiday Hunger Programme to become a permanent initiative, benefitting over 40,000 children

  • Increases to the One Parent Family and Disability Allowance earnings disregards

  • Working Family Payment income thresholds increase by €30 per week

  • Fuel Allowance to rise by €5 to €43 per week. This will mean a payment of over €1,200 for some 460,000 fuel allowance recipients

  • Living Alone Allowance will rise by €3 to €25 per week

  • Expansion of the Rural Dweller pilot to 500 places

  • Increases to the top-up on the Community Employment Scheme, Rural Social Scheme and Tús to €35 per week

  • 50% increase in the means disregard for agri-environment schemes to support farmers

  • €5 increase in the Living on a Specified Island Allowance from €20 to €25

  • Legislative amendment to place the Fish Assist on a statutory basis, as is already the case with Farm Assist

  • 100% Christmas Bonus to be paid to some 1.4 million long-term social welfare recipients in December 2026

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