SOCIAL WELFARE
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has secured a significant budget package for carers which includes:
- Major increase in the Carer’s Allowance means test limits to €625 per week for a single person and €1250 per week for a couple
- Carer’s Support Grant will be increased to €2000
- Carer’s Benefit will be extended to Self-Employed workers
-  Carer’s Allowance will be made a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance
-  A €400 Lump Sum Payment for Carers
- Two Double Payments for Carers in October and November
-  €12 increase in weekly Carers Payments from January
- €20 increase in the Domiciliary Care Allowance
Welfare double payments:
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Double payment of all welfare rates in October and December.
Double payment of child benefit in November and December.
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Additional bonus payments:
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€400 bonus payment of disability support grant
€400 bonus payment carers support grant
€200 living alone allowance bonus payment
400 working family payment bonus payment
€100 child support grant (formerly qualified child) bonus payment
Philip Ryan
