As the new year rolls around, a number of changes announced in Budget 2023 will be coming into effect over the coming weeks.
From January 1, several new cash boosts announced as part of the Government's €11 billion package in September will come into effect.
From an €12 increase in all social welfare payments, an 80c rise in minimum wage, and €200 energy credits being doled out, people in Ireland will soon notice more money being put back in their pockets.
READ MORE: Over a million Irish people to get €50 for free this Christmas in kind gesture from electricity firm
Here are all the Budget 2023 changes that start in January:
Energy credits
Households will receive two further energy credits of €200 each in the New Year to help heat their homes over winter - one in January and the second in March.
Minimum wage
The minimum wage will rise by 80c to €11.30 per hour.
Weekly payments increase
All social welfare recipients will see an increase of €12 per week, in January, which amounts to €624 across the year.
There will also be proportional increases for qualified adults and people on reduced rates of payment in January. Those aged 25 and under who are getting a reduced rate of Jobseeker's Allowance will also get the full €12 increase.
Child Benefit increased by €2
The weekly rate for a qualified child will increase by €2 bringing the new amount to €42 a week for children under 12 years and €50 a week for children aged 12 years and over.
Fuel Allowance
The Fuel Allowance income threshold will increase in January from €120 to €200 above the applicable State Pension (Contributory) rate for people aged under 70.
Anyone aged 70 and over can qualify for Fuel Allowance as long as their weekly means (including State Pension) is not above €500 per week for a single person and €1,000 per week for a couple.
Disablement Benefit and half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance.
Working Family Payment
The income limits for the Working Family Payment will increase by €40 across all family sizes in the New Year.
Disability and illness payments
The amount that those getting the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension can earn without their payment being affected will rise from €140 to €165 in January.
Domiciliary Care Allowance
The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) will rise by €20.50 from €309.50 to €330 in the New Year. DCA will also be available for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth for a period of 6 months.
Food poverty programme
The Government will develop and implement a pilot scheme to support those experiencing food poverty in January.
READ NEXT:
- Woman mortified after buying Christmas decoration without realising how rude it looks
- Retired Irish soldier dons uniform to salute Sean Rooney's coffin in touching tribute
- Victoria Beckham says David is 'heartbroken' over school request from daughter Harper
- Met Eireann warnings in place with 100km/h gusts expected before Christmas Day u-turn
- Conor McGregor blocks Paul McGrath on Twitter as row over PJ Gallagher tweet continues
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
