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Budget 2026


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€28.9 billion to be spent on social welfare in 2026

€28.9 billion to be spent on social welfare in 2026, including over €1.15 billion of new measures targeted to assist households

Read the full press release.

  • The largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the state.
    • Weekly increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over (up to €4,056 per annum) and,
    • Weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12 (up to €3,016 per annum).
  • Largest ever increase in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard from July 2026
    • Increase of €375 to €1,000 for a single person, and,
    • Increase of €750 to €2,000 for a couple.
  • The income limit for Carer’s Benefit will increase by €375 to €1,000 per week from July 2026.
  • €60 increase in weekly income thresholds for Working Family Payment for all family sizes.
  • Families getting the Working Family Payment will qualify for Fuel Allowance.
  • €5 increase in Fuel Allowance from €33 to €38 per week from January 2026. This will provide an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season.
  • People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work from September 2026 will keep their Fuel Allowance for 5 years.
  • Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance rate of €160 extended to children aged 2 and 3, who are eligible for this allowance.
  • €10 increase in most weekly social welfare payments
  • Christmas bonus to be paid to over 1.47 million long-term social welfare recipients.

€320 million to tackle child poverty

Supports for carers

  • €10 increase in the maximum rate of the Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit from January 2026. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate.
  • The largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the state.
    • Weekly increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over (up to €4,056 per annum) and,
    • Weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12 (up to €3,016 per annum).
  • Largest ever increase in the Carer's Allowance income disregard from July 2026
    • Increase of €375 to €1,000 for a single person, and,
    • Increase of €750 to €2,000 for a couple.
  • The income limit for Carer's Benefit will increase by €375 to €1,000 per week from July 2026.
  • €20 increase in Domiciliary Care Allowance per month.
  • Christmas bonus to be paid to over 1.47 million long-term social welfare recipients in December 2025.

Supports for people with disabilities

  • €10 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2026. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate.
  • People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work from September 2026 will keep their Fuel Allowance for 5 years.
  • People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment.
  • Wage Subsidy Scheme extended to more people who acquire a disability.
  • €1.20 increase in the Wage Subsidy Scheme base rate to €7.50 per hour and introducing a middle rate of €8.50 from April 2026.
  • Largest ever increase in the Carer’s Allowance income disregard from July 2026
    • Increase of €375 to €1,000 for a single person, and,
    • Increase of €750 to €2,000 for a couple.
  • The income limit for Carer’s Benefit will increase by €375 to €1,000 per week from July 2026.
  • €20 increase in Domiciliary Care Allowance per month.
  • €5 increase in Fuel Allowance from €33 to €38 per week from January 2026. This will provide an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season.
  • Christmas bonus to all persons getting a long-term disability payment to be paid in December 2025.

Supports for one-parent families

  • €10 increase in most weekly social welfare payments from January 2026. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate.
  • The largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the state.
    • Weekly increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over (up to €4,056 per annum) and,
    • Weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12 (up to €3,016 per annum).
  • Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance rate of €160 extended to children aged 2 and 3, who are eligible for this allowance.
  • Families getting the Working Family Payment will qualify for Fuel Allowance. This will be paid in March 2026 and backdated to January 2026.
  • €60 increase in weekly income thresholds for Working Family Payment for all family sizes.
  • People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment.
  • €5 increase in Fuel Allowance from €33 to €38 per week from January 2026. This will provide an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season.
  • Christmas bonus to be paid to over 1.47 million long-term social welfare recipients in December 2025.

Supports for pensioners

  • €10 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all state pensions from January 2026. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate.
  • €5 increase in Fuel Allowance from €33 to €38 per week from January 2026. This will provide an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season.
  • Christmas bonus to be paid to over 1.47 million long-term social welfare recipients in December 2025.

Supports for people seeking employment

Auto-enrolment

  • Introduction of the Auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme, also known as MyFutureFund, helping almost 750,000 workers save for their retirement.
  • Starting 1 January 2026, contributions from employees, employers and the State will be collected through payroll from this date.
  • €154 million State contribution in 2026.
  • In 2026, employee contribution will be 1.5% of gross salary, employer contribution 1.5% and the State tops it up by 0.5%.

Christmas Bonus

Download the Budget Factsheet

Budget 2026 Factsheet
2025.10.07
Download link for Download

Budget 2026 figures

Social insurance payments

Maximum weekly rate

(from January 2026)

Personal rate

Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA)

Child Support Payment
under 12

Child Support Payment
aged 12+

Social insurance payments

State Pension (Contributory)

 

- Personal rate – Under 80

299.30

See IQA below

58.00

78.00

- Personal Rate - Aged 80 and over

309.30

See IQA below

58.00

78.00

- Increase for Qualified Adult – Under 66

 

199.40

 

 

- Increase for Qualified Adult – 66 and over

 

268.40

 

 

Bereaved Partner’s/Surviving Civil Partner (Con) Pension/Deserted Wife’s Benefit

 

- Under 66

259.50

 

58.00

78.00

- Aged 66 and under 80

299.30

 

58.00

78.00

- Aged 80 and over

309.30

 

58.00

78.00

Invalidity Pension

259.50

185.40

58.00

78.00

Carer’s Benefit

271.00

 

58.00

78.00

Disablement Benefit

285.00

 

58.00

78.00

Jobseeker’s / Illness / Health and Safety / Injury Benefit

254.00

168.60

58.00

78.00

Maternity / Paternity / Adoptive / Parent’s Benefit

299.00

 

 

 

Death Benefit

 

 

 

 

- Under 66

284.50

 

58.00

78.00

- Aged 66 and under 80

303.70

 

58.00

78.00

- Aged 80 and over

313.70

 

58.00

78.00

 

Social assistance payments

Maximum weekly rate

(from January 2026)

Personal

rate

Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA)

Child Support Payment
under 12

Child Support Payment
aged 12+

Social assistance payments

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

 

- Aged 66 and under 80

288.00

 

58.00

78.00

- Aged 80 and over

298.00

 

58.00

78.00

- Increase for Qualified Adult – Under 66

 

190.20

 

 

Carer’s Allowance

 

- Under 66

270.00

 

58.00

78.00

- Aged 66 and over

308.00

 

58.00

78.00

Disability Allowance / Blind Pension

254.00

168.60

58.00

78.00

Bereaved Partner’s/Surviving Civil Partner (Non-Con) Pension

254.00

 

58.00

78.00

One-Parent Family Payment / Deserted Wife’s Allowance

254.00

 

58.00

78.00

Farm Assist

254.00

168.60

58.00

78.00

Jobseeker’s Allowance

 

 

 

 

- Under 25

163.70

163.70

58.00

78.00

- Aged 25 and over

254.00

168.00

58.00

78.00

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

 

- Under 25 living independently with State support

252.00

162.00

58.00

78.00

- Under 25 not living independently

163.70

163.70

 

 

– Aged 25 and over

252.00

162.00

58.00

78.00

Child Benefit

Child Benefit

2026 Monthly Rate

 For each child

€140

Twins

Paid at one and a half times the normal monthly rate for each child

All other multiple births

Paid at double the normal monthly rate for each child

Employment programmes

An increase of €5 per week from January 2026 for those participating in the Community Employment Programme, Rural Social Scheme and Tús. A €10 increase per week for Job Initiative.

Working Family Payment Thresholds

Working Family Payment Thresholds

2026 Weekly Income Limit €

1 Child

765.00

2 Children

866.00

3 Children

967.00

4 Children

1,058.00

5 Children

1,184.00

6 Children

1,300.00

7 Children

1,436.00

8 Children or more

1,532.00

Other Social Welfare Payments

Other Social Welfare Payments

2026 Rate €

Frequency

Guardian’s Payment (Con/Non-Con)

237.00

Weekly Rate

Fuel Allowance

38.00

Weekly Rate

Living Alone Increase

22.00

Weekly Rate

Island Allowance (specified offshore islands)

20.00

Weekly Rate

Domiciliary Care Allowance

380.00

Monthly Rate

Carer’s Support Grant

2,000.00

Annual Rate

Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant

8,000.00

Once-off payment

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