Similar to last year, Budget 2024 proposed a number of once-off payments to address cost of living challenges as well as increases to recurring benefits.
EXPENDITURE WELFARE AND BENEFITS
Once-off payments
- Three credits of €150 each will be provided between the end of this year and April of next year to assist households with energy bills.
- Double payment of Child Payment, worth an additional €140 for each child, will be made to all qualifying households before Christmas. A double payment of the Foster Care allowance will also be made this year.
- A €300 lump sum payment will be made to recipients of the Fuel Allowance in the last quarter of this year.
- An additional €200 will also be paid this year to recipients of the Living Alone Allowance.
- Once-off double week “Cost of Living Support” payment to all qualifying Social Protection recipients to be paid in January and will include pensioners, carers, people on disability payments and jobseekers.
- A special, once-off payment of €400 will be made before Christmas to those who receive the Carer’s Support Grant, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and Domiciliary Care Allowance.
- A €400 lump sum payment will be made to recipients of the Working Family Payment later this year.
- A once off reduction of the student contribution fee by €1,000 for free fees students; a once-off reduction of approximately 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices in higher education and an increase in the Post Graduate Tuition fee contribution by €1,000 for student grant recipients.
- Recognising that the rising costs also have impacts for businesses across the country, a scheme of business supports worth €250 million is being introduced.
Recurring payments
- An increase of €12 per week for individuals in receipt of a weekly Social Protection payment from January 2024.
- Child Benefit extended to 18-year-olds in full time education from September 2024.
- An increase in the income threshold for Carer’s Allowance to €450 for a single person and €900 for a couple.
- An extension of the fee reduction on school transport services for a further year, an extension of the fee waiver for students sitting state exams, a €60 million capitation payment for schools to continue to meet increased running costs and funding for supports for the most disadvantaged groups.
- Free schoolbooks scheme to be introduced for junior cycle pupils in recognised post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme from September next year.
For further information contact Robert Lohan rlohan@dhkn.ie
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