Budget 2026

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, 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.

• 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.

• €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.

• €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 will be extended from January 2026 to more people who acquire a disability.
• The number of bands on the Wage Subsidy Scheme is being reduced from five to three and the rates are being increased, from April 2026 as follows:
  • €1.20 increase in the base rate to €7.50 per hour for employers with 1-6 employees on the scheme
  • Increase to €8.50 per hour for employers with 7-16 employees on the scheme
  • Increase to €10 per hour for employers with 17 or more employees on the scheme
• 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.

• €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.

• €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.

• 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.
• The Minister will be bringing a measure in the Social Welfare Bill following the Budget to increase the employer PRSI threshold from €527 to €552 per week from 1 January 2026 on the basis that the National Minimum Wage is being increased from €13.50 to €14.15 per hour from that date.

• 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%.

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 *
• Jobseeker's Transitional Payment
• 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.

Social insurance payments

Social assistance payments

Child Benefit

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

Other Social Welfare Payments

State Pension Contributory

Families and Children

One-Parent Families

Carers

People with disabilities

Pensions