More than a million social welfare recipients in the Republic will see a higher payment next year after Budget 2027, with weekly rates rising by €10 from January. About 1.6 million people on weekly State supports will benefit, including pensioners, jobseekers, carers and people on disability payments.
Over a year, €10 a week adds up to €520. The package also brings a new €500 cost of disability payment, a higher Fuel Allowance and a double Christmas bonus in December.
The €10 weekly increase
The rise applies across core weekly payments from January 2027. The State pension rises to €309.30 a week, disability benefit to €295 and jobseeker’s benefit to €264. The State pension passes €300 a week for the first time.
Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit also go up by €10, to a maximum of €281 and €280 a week respectively.
Disability supports
A new cost of disability payment of €500 is paid as a lump sum to adult long-term recipients of disability allowance, full incapacity pension or blind pension. The first payment is due early in 2027.
That works out at under €10 a week, and disability groups had sought about €55 a week. Separately, the minimum hours needed to apply for the Wage Subsidy Scheme drop from 15 to 8 a week from April 2027.
Fuel Allowance and Living Alone Allowance
Fuel Allowance rises by €5 a week, from €38 to €43, across the 28-week season. About 470,000 households receive it. The income limit for single pensioners living alone also rises, from €534 to €641 a week, so more of them qualify.
The Living Alone Allowance goes up €3 a week, from €22 to €25, its first increase in five years. For when the season starts and who qualifies, see our guide to the Fuel Allowance start date and eligibility.
Support for families and children
The Child Support Payment rises by up to €6 a week, to a maximum of €64 for children under 12 and €84 for older children. The Working Family Payment income threshold goes up by €30 a week for all family sizes.
The school meals scheme also extends into the school holidays, covering about 40,000 children. A second-tier child benefit for the poorest children was not included and is now targeted for Budget 2028.
Christmas bonus and earnings limits
The Christmas bonus is paid as a double payment in early December 2026 to about 1.4 million long-term recipients.
From July 2027, Carer’s Allowance income disregards rise to €1,150 for a single person and €2,300 for a couple.
Cost and reaction
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said in his budget day comments on welfare spending: “Next year we will spend over €30bn on social welfare, a €2bn increase on 2026.” The social protection allocation for 2027 is €30.9 billion.
Frequently asked questions
When does the €10 increase start?
January 2027, for core weekly payments including the State pension.
Who gets the €500 cost of disability payment?
Adult long-term recipients of disability allowance, full incapacity pension or blind pension, with payment early in 2027.
How much is the Fuel Allowance now?
€43 a week, up €5, over a 28-week season.
