Over €133m in new cost-of-living measures to be paid this week

Cillian Sherlock, PA

A carers’ lump-sum of €400 is among a range of €133 million in new cost-of-living payments to be paid this week.

Around 120,000 carers will get the payment on Thursday while 240,000 recipients of the living-alone allowance will receive a €200 bonus lump-sum between Wednesday and Friday.

Throughout the week, a lump sum of €100 per child will be paid to families in respect of 370,000 qualified children, on top of primary social welfare payments.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys announced the details of the payments alongside a new scheme to enhance pension provision for long-term carers.

Speaking to reporters at a support meeting for carers at Baldoyle Community Hall, Ms Humphreys said the new contribution scheme makes it easier for a long-term carer to qualify for a contributory state pension.

Any period in which a carer is registered as providing care to a person who has a disability that requires full-time care and attention can be included in their pay-related social insurance (PRSI) record for state pension purposes. A minimum of 20 years of long-term carers contributions is required.

Ms Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce this scheme, which will ensure that long-term carers of dependents are provided with contributions for gaps in their social insurance record for the first time in the history of the State.

“This will help ensure that thousands of people, mainly women, who have spent time caring for incapacitated loved ones will now be able to qualify for the contributory state pension.

“I encourage all carers to register their caring periods at mywelfare.ie so that in cases where they have cared for a loved one for over 20 years, their pension entitlement reflects their important contribution to their family and to society by the time they reach pension age.”

Ms Humphreys also secured increases to the weekly earnings disregard for carer’s allowance, effective from June 2024.

The weekly earnings disregard will increase by €100 for a single person and €150 for a couple.