Some major social welfare payment changes are expected within days as new Budget 2022 measures come into force.
The annual announcement may have been made back in October but some of the proposed changes have taken months to come into effect.
And many of these new measures concern social welfare, with some significant payment hikes due to begin from January 2022.
There has also been a warning for social welfare recipients to stay alert to payment date changes over the Christmas period.
Here is everything you need to know:
January 2022 social welfare changes
A host of Budget 2022 schemes will finally come into force at the start of next month with social welfare recipients in for hikes.
From January 1, The maximum rate of all weekly social welfare payments will increase by €5 with proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment.
People aged 25 and under who are getting a reduced rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance will get the full €5 increase.
The weekly rate for a qualified child will increase by €2 from €38 to €40 for children under 12 years of age. It will increase by €3 from €45 to €48 for children aged 12 years and over.
The income threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase by €20 from €100 to €120.
The Living Alone Increase will rise by €3 from €19 to €22.
January will also see the period during which Carer’s Allowance and Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital will be extended from 3 months to 6 months
While PhD scholarships will be disregarded in the means test for Blind Pension.
The final social welfare change will see the weekly income threshold for the higher rate of employer’s PRSI will increase from €398 to €410 to ensure that there is no incentive to reduce the working hours for a full-time employee on the increased minimum wage.
Christmas payment date warning
According to the Department of Social Protection, if you receive a weekly social welfare payment, you will get it as usual during the week commencing Monday, December 22, and an advanced payment for the following week.
This applies to payments made at post offices, by cheque or directly into their financial institution accounts.
Post offices and banks open for a half-day on December 24 and will not open again until December 30. They will also be closed on Monday, January 3.
Additionally, Intreo Centres and Branch Offices will be closed on Monday, December 27, Tuesday, December 28 and Monday, January 3.
Here are the Christmas date changes when it comes to weekly payments:
- Due: Wednesday, December 22 - Paid December 22
- Due: Thursday, December 23 - Paid December 22
- Due: Friday, December 24 - Paid: December 23
- Due: Monday, January 3 - Paid: Friday, December 31
Weekly payments will be paid on normal dates from January 3, 2022.
As for people receiving monthly payments:
- Due: Thursday, December 23 - Paid December 23
- Due: Monday, December 27 - Paid December 23
- Due: Tuesday, December 28 - Paid December 23
- Due: Wednesday, December 29 - Paid December 24
- Due: Thursday, December 30 - Paid December 24
The Department also issued important information for people in receipt of the PUP, Casual Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit and Illness Benefit.
It states: "COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP): PUP due on Tuesday 21 December will be in your account on this day. This will include an advanced payment for 28 December.
"Casual Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit: where you have provided dockets in advance, two payments covering the weeks ending 21 and 28 December or 22 and 29 December will be paid on Thursday 23 December. Normal payment arrangements for week ending 4 and 5 January will resume on Tuesday 11 January 2022.
"Illness Benefit: please continue to send in your 'Certificate of Incapacity for Work' over the Christmas and New Year period."
