Several major social welfare payments are lined up to get a weekly increase from the start of 2026, with the New Year marking a change for 26 schemes
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There are 26 social welfare schemes that are lined up to get an increase of around €500 soon. It was confirmed in Budget 2026 that certain payments will undergo hikes from January 2026.
The Department of Social Protection explained that it won’t be every scheme, only those announced as part of the Budget. Here are all the social welfare schemes increasing by €10 per week:
State Pension (Contributory)State Pension (Non-Contributory)Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) PensionBereaved Partner’s (Non-Contributory) PensionJobseeker’s BenefitJobseeker’s AllowanceOne-Parent Family PaymentMaternity BenefitAdoptive BenefitPaternity BenefitParent’s BenefitHealth and Safety BenefitFarm AssistDeserted Wife’s BenefitDeserted Wife’s AllowanceSupplementary Welfare AllowanceIllness BenefitInvalidity PensionDisability AllowanceBlind PensionInjury BenefitDisablement BenefitDeath Benefit SchemeCarer’s BenefitCarer’s AllowanceGuardian’s paymentThe Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment, which is set to increase by €20 per month.
The Child Support Payment, which was previously called Increase for a Qualified Child, is also increasing. The full rate for children under 12, their weekly rate will go from €50 to €58 and the half rate will go from €25 to €29.
For children aged 12 and over, the full rate will increase from €62 to €78 per week, while the half rate will increase from €31 to €39. The weekly rate for the Fuel Allowance will also be hiked, going from €33 to €38.
There are also several social welfare schemes that have been completely excluded from these increases. The current weekly rate for the Living Alone Increase is €22 and this will remain the same in 2026.
People living on islands can face extra expenses travelling to the mainland to avail of services. They may be entitled to the Island Increase (specified offshore islands). In 2025, the weekly rate is €20 and this has remained the same since January 2021.
The Bereaved Parent Grant is a once-off payment of €8,000 and it can be paid directly to your account in a financial institution. The rate will stay the same next year, the Irish Mirror reports.
Child Benefit is a monthly payment to qualifying parents or guardians. It is currently worth €140 a month and will remain the same rate in 2026.
The Carer’s Support Grant is paid to carers once a year by the Department of Social Protection. It’s worth €2,000 per year and will stay the same next year.