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A number of big measures related to Ireland’s social welfare were announced during the 2021 Budget on Tuesday.
The big talking point was the Christmas Bonus, but it wasn’t the only change that welfare recipients should know about.
There were also modifications to the qualifying child pay, fuel allowance, and caregiver support grant, as well as some other parts.
These are all the changes you need to know about, some of which will have an impact before Christmas.
Changes in social welfare in the 2021 budget
Christmas bonus
The Christmas Bonus 2020 will be paid this year at a rate of 100%.
Due to the pandemic and on a timely basis, this year, the bonus will be paid to certain PUP recipients and job seekers who are currently receiving these payments and have received it for at least 4 months.
Pandemic unemployment payment
The Finance Minister allows freelancers in PUPs, including those working in the arts and entertainment industry, taxi drivers and others, to return to work and earn up to € 480 per month, while retaining their full PUP entitlement.
Sick benefit
The Minister is reducing the waiting period to three days so that people can collect from the fourth day of illness.
Parent benefit
The minister announced that the payment of the parental benefit, which amounts to € 245 per week, will be increased from 2 weeks to 5 weeks from April and that it will be applied in relation to all children born since November 2019. This payment is available for both parents.
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Subsidy for widowed or survivor civil partner
The Minister increases this subsidy from € 6,000 to € 8,000.
Employability service
The Minister is expanding the training support grant of € 1,000 to job seekers who take advantage of the Employability Service.
Qualifying Child Pay
The weekly payment for a qualifying child aged 12 and over will increase from € 40 to € 45, while the payment for a child under 12 will increase from € 36 to € 38. These changes represent increases for more than 419,000 children in households, which depend on social welfare and will take effect from January 2021.
Caregiver support scholarship
More than 130,000 caregivers will benefit from the € 150 increase in the grant, which is paid in June of each year.
Fuel allowance
Therefore, the Minister is increasing the weekly fuel allocation rate by € 3.50 from next January to € 28 per week. More than 375,000 people will benefit from this increase.
Allowance to live alone
Minister Humphreys will increase this subsidy from next January by € 5 to € 19 per week for the elderly, widows, widowers and people with disabilities. More than 210,000 people will benefit from this increase.
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