Budget 2026 introduces a €10 weekly increase across a wide range of social welfare payments, including the State pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance, jobseeker’s allowance and the one parent family payment. The change will take effect from January 2026 and is expected to benefit around 1.5 million people.
Under the revised rates, the non-contributory State pension will increase to €288 per week for those aged 66 to 79 and to €298 for recipients over 80. Disability allowance and jobseeker’s allowance for adults over 25 will both rise to €254 per week. A full 100 percent Christmas bonus will again be paid to long term welfare recipients.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers confirmed that €28.9 billion has been allocated to the Department of Social Protection for next year, representing an increase of more than €2 billion. He also announced several enhancements to targeted supports, including an increase in the income disregard for carer’s allowance to €1,000 for single applicants and €2,000 for couples. The domiciliary care allowance will rise by €20 to €380 per month.
A €300 million support package for children and families includes higher weekly child support payments, rising by €8 for children under 12 and €16 for older children. This brings the rates to €58 and €78 respectively. Working Family Payment thresholds will rise by €60 per week for all households. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance will be extended to children aged two and three.
Fuel allowance measures will also change. The weekly payment will rise by €5 to €38, and eligibility will broaden to include all families in receipt of the Working Family Payment.
The Minister said the increased allocation will also support an estimated 30,000 additional recipients of pensions, illness, disability and carer supports; fund the full year cost of the new jobseeker’s pay related benefit; and maintain payments to more than 50,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.
However, disability advocacy groups expressed disappointment at the absence of a permanent cost of disability payment. The Irish Wheelchair Association warned that the withdrawal of once off supports, combined with rising living costs, will leave many people with disabilities worse off in 2026. The organisation said disabled people are being pushed into severe financial difficulty and called for long term structural supports rather than temporary measures.
Minister of State for Disability Hildegarde Naughton said the sector has historically been underfunded, and that this year’s Budget aims to set a stronger foundation for sustained investment over future Budgets. She emphasised that the focus is on permanent, targeted supports instead of once off payments.
