Budget 2026
- Published on: 7 October 2025
- Last updated on: 7 October 2025
- €28.9 billion to be spent on social welfare in 2026
- €320 million to tackle child poverty
- Supports for carers
- Supports for people with disabilities
- Supports for one-parent families
- Supports for pensioners
- Supports for people seeking employment
- Auto-enrolment
- Christmas Bonus
- Download the Budget Factsheet
- Budget 2026 figures
Alert on scam phone calls and scam text messages
Following the Budget 2026 announcement there may be an increase in fraudulent texts or calls asking people to register for the lump sums and double payments. If you are entitled to a lump sum or double payment, these will be automatically paid and you do not need to apply for it. Read more on our alert on scam phone calls and scam text messages
€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
- 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
- The largest Child Support Payment increase in the history of the state.
- Weekly increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 and over (annual payment of up to €4,056) and,
- Weekly increase of €8 to €58 for children under 12 (annual payment up to €3,016).
- 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.
- €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
- People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment.
- €20 increase in Domiciliary Care Allowance per month.
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
- Increase of €10 in maximum personal weekly rate of Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance 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).
- 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.
- €5 increase in the top up for Community Employment, Tús and Rural Social Scheme participants to €32.50.
- €10 increase on current payment for Job Initiative participants.
- Christmas bonus to be paid to over 1.47 million long-term social welfare recipients in December 2025.
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
People who are getting the following payments will get the Christmas bonus.
- Back to Education Allowance *
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
- Back to Work Family Dividend
- Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment
- Blind Pension
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer's Benefit
- Community Employment
- Daily Expenses Allowance *
- Deserted Wife's Allowance
- Deserted Wife's Benefit
- Disability Allowance
- Disablement Benefit
- Domiciliary Care Allowance
- Farm Assist
- Guardian's Payment
- Illness Benefit *
- Invalidity Pension
- Job Initiative Scheme
- Jobseeker's Allowance *
- Magdalen Commission Scheme
- Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Partial Capacity Benefit
- Rural Social Scheme
- State Pension (Contributory)
- State Pension (Non-contributory)
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance (long-term)
- Tús (community work placement initiative)
- Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
- Bereaved Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Work Placement Experience Programme
*12 months duration on eligible social welfare payment or scheme is required in order to be eligible for Bonus.
Download the Budget Factsheet
Budget 2026 figures
Social insurance payments
Maximum weekly rate (from January 2026) |
Personal rate |
Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) |
Child Support Payment |
Child Support Payment |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Child Support Payment |
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 |