Kildare householders to benefit from over €1bn in social protection increases from today (January 1 2025)

Kildare householders are set to benefit from over €1bn in social protection increases from today (January 1 2025)

The Taoiseach, Simon Harris, and the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, have announced that over €1bn in social protection increases are to come into effect from today.

These increases, secured as part of Budget 2025, will provide further support for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and low-income families.

The total cost of the January improvements is some €1,028m.

The measures coming into effect in January are:

· a €12 increase in the maximum rate of all core weekly payments, with proportionate increases for Qualified Adult dependents – benefitting over 1.4 million people.

· €15 increase to weekly rates for Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Paternity Benefit and Parent's Benefit, and a €24 increase in the Work Placement Experience Programme.

· Working Family Payment thresholds to increase by €60 per week for all family sizes. This will provide additional financial support for low-income families and more households will become eligible for the payment as a result of this increase.

· An increase of €20 in the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance bringing the payment to €360 per month. This increase is to support people who play a valuable role in Irish society – parents or guardians who look after a child with a severe disability.

· Up to €8 increase in the weekly Child Support Payment (formerly Increase for a Qualified Child payment) in respect of children of social welfare recipients, bringing the payment to €50 per week for children under 12 and €62 per week for children aged 12 and over.

These measures are on top of the ten lump-sum payments, worth over €1.4bn, that were secured as part of Budget 2025 to assist families with the cost of living.

Announcing the January Social Protection measures, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: "I am so pleased to announce that over €1 billion worth of payment increases are to come into effect from today.

"The increases will benefit hundreds of thousands of families right across the country, including our carers, pensioners, lone parents and people with disabilities.

"I am particularly pleased that we have again increased the Child Support Payment and the Working Family Payment thresholds. These are both vital supports that help to reduce child poverty."

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, added: "This was my last Budget as Minister for Social Protection and again this was the largest Social Protection Budget package in the history of the State.

"These measures are in addition to the series of Lump Sum Payments that issued in recent weeks. These lump-sum payments are designed to put more money back in people’s pockets, especially over the Christmas period, which can be particularly stressful for families, trying to get the presents for the children and some Christmas treats."