An extra week's payment of the state pension and social welfare is being considered by government for this Autumn to help ease the cost of living crisis.
The double payment would be similar to the Christmas bonus given to all pensioners and people on social welfare in the month of December, in a bid to ease the cost of living crisis. The measure will be announced on Budget Day which is expected to take place in September and it would cost about €350million.
It is being considered by the government as part of a number of other one-off measures to help ease the cost of living crisis, according to the Irish Independent.
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While the double payment would be announced on this year's late September budget day, it would be separate to the tax and spending package for 2023. The eligibility criteria that usually apply for the Christmas bonus, including being on jobseekers’ allowance for at least a year may also be relaxed.
Extra fuel-allowance payments to eligible households, and another €200 electricity credit for all households are also being considered as part of the one-off measures.
The amount of extra expenditure available to the Government will be outlined in the Summer Economic Statement which is set to be published on Monday.
The Government is banking on spending an extra €4bn next year, with €2.2bn of this allocated to keeping up with demographic changes and the existing public-sector pay deal, as well as an additional €800m in capital expenditure.
Read next:
- Social welfare Ireland: Paid parental leave extended to seven weeks
Cost-of-living Ireland: Leo Varadkar warns crisis could go on for 'years'
- Social welfare Ireland: Payments will be bumped up in October, says Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
- Stop using trolleys and other tips to save money on your weekly food shop
- Fresh calls for Government to increase social welfare by €20 a week
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