Budget 2026 confirmed certain social welfare schemes will increase from January 2026 – but five payment types will remain unchanged
Ruairi Scott Byrne and Erica Carter
09:47, 14 Dec 2025
(Image: Getty Images)
Budget 2026 has confirmed that certain social welfare schemes will see increases from January 2026 – though not all groups will benefit from a rise.
The weekly rate for the Living Alone Increase currently stands at €22 and this figure is set to remain unchanged in 2026. Similarly, the Island Increase will hold steady at its current rate of €20 per week.
The Bereaved Parent Grant, a one-time payment of €8,000, will maintain its current value next year and can be directly deposited into your bank account.
Child Benefit, a monthly stipend for eligible parents or guardians, is presently valued at €140 a month and will continue at this rate in 2026, reports RSVP Live. The Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is paid at a rate of €160 for children under 12 and €285 for those over 12, will also see no increase.
Here are all the social welfare schemes set to rise by €10 per week:
- State Pension (Contributory)
- State Pension (Non-Contributory)
- Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
- Bereaved Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Jobseeker’s Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Maternity Benefit
- Adoptive Benefit
- Paternity Benefit
- Parent’s Benefit
- Health and Safety Benefit
- Farm Assist
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit
- Deserted Wife’s Allowance
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
- Illness Benefit
- Invalidity Pension
- Disability Allowance
- Blind Pension
- Injury Benefit
- Disablement Benefit
- Death Benefit Scheme
- Carer’s Benefit
- Carer’s Allowance
- Guardian’s payment
The Domiciliary Care Allowance, a monthly payment, is due to see an increase of €20 per month, the Irish Mirror reports.
The Child Support Payment, formerly known as Increase for a Qualified Child, is also on the up. The full weekly rate for children under 12 will jump from €50 to €58, while the half rate will rise from €25 to €29.
For children aged 12 and over, the full rate will climb from €62 to €78 per week, with the half rate increasing from €31 to €39. Lastly, the weekly rate for the Fuel Allowance is set for a boost, rising from €33 to €38.
