Social Welfare Act 2024

Social Welfare Act 2024 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2024 Social Welfare Act 2024 Social Welfare Act 2024 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 36 of 2024 SOCIAL WELFARE ACT 2024 CONTENTS Section

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

Section 8

Section 9

Section 10

Section 11

Section 12

Section 13

Section 14

Section 15

Section 16

Section 17

Section 18

Section 19

Definitions 1. In this Act— “Act of 2023” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 ; “Principal Act” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 .

Employment contributions 2. (1) Section 13(2) of the Principal Act is amended, in paragraph (d)— (a) by the substitution, in subparagraph (i), of “€527” for “€496”, and (b) by the substitution, in subparagraph (ii), of “€527” for “€496”.

Amendment of section 21 of Principal Act 3. (1) Section 21(1) of the Principal Act is amended, in paragraph (e), by the insertion of “carer’s benefit,” after “parent’s benefit,”.

Maternity benefit – new rate 4. (1) Section 49(1) (amended by section 4 of the Act of 2023) of the Principal Act is amended, in paragraph (b), by the substitution of the following subparagraph for subparagraph (ii): “(ii) €289.”.

Adoptive benefit – new rate 5. (1) Section 60(1) (amended by section 5 of the Act of 2023) of the Principal Act is amended, in paragraph (b), by the substitution of the following subparagraph for subparagraph (ii): “(ii) €289.”.

Paternity benefit – new rate 6. (1) Section 61D (amended by section 6 of the Act of 2023) of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b): “(b) €289.”.

Parent’s benefit – new rate 7. (1) Section 61I (amended by section 8 of the Act of 2023) of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b): “(b) €289.”.

Increase in rates of jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed) relating to certain reckonable weekly earnings, certain reckonable weekly income and certain periods 8. (1) Section 65A(1) (amended by section 9(1) of the Act of 2023) of the Principal Act is amended— (a) in paragraphs (a), (d) and (g), by the substitution of “€109.50” for “€104.10” in each place where it occurs, (b) in paragraphs (b), (e) and (h), by the substitution of “€157.30” for “€149.60” in each place where it occurs, and (c) in paragraphs (c), (f) and (i), by the substitution of “€191.10” for “€181.70” in each place where it occurs.

Amendment of section 68J of Principal Act 9. Section 68J of the Principal Act is amended— (a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1): “(1) Where— (a) as a consequence of attendance for, or submission to, an assessment in accordance with section 68I(3)(b), a request is made by or on behalf of the Minister to that person to participate in, agree to participate in or avail himself or herself of an opportunity of participating in— (i) any scheme or programme of employment or work experience, or (ii) a course of education, training or development, which is prescribed for the purposes of this section and which is considered appropriate having regard to the education, training and development needs of that person and his or her personal circumstances, and (b) that person refuses or fails, without good cause, to participate in, agree to participate in or avail himself or herself of an opportunity of participating in such a scheme, programme or course, as the case may be, the weekly rate of jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed) payable to that person in respect of any such period of refusal or failure shall, subject to this section, be as set out in section 68E(2) or, as the case may be, paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of section 68F(2).”, and (b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (4): “(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent subsections (1) to (3) being applied to a person where, on or after the expiration of such period of disqualification as is applied in accordance with subsection (3)— (a) notice has been given by or on behalf of the Minister to that person requesting him or her, at the time specified in the notice, to comply with the requirement referred to in subsection (2)(a), or (b) a request has been made by or on behalf of the Minister to that person to participate in, agree to participate in or avail himself or herself of an opportunity of participating in any scheme, programme or course referred to in subsection (2)(b), as the case may be, and that person continues, without good cause, to refuse or fail to— (i) comply with the requirement specified in the notice under paragraph (a) at the time specified in that notice, or at any time thereafter as may be determined by or on behalf of the Minister and notified to the person, or (ii) participate in, agree to participate in or avail himself or herself of an opportunity of participating in any scheme, programme or course referred to in paragraph (b).”.

Amendment of section 100 of Principal Act 10. (1) Section 100 of the Principal Act is amended— (a) in subsection (1), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a): “(a) was engaged in insurable full-time employment for not less than 8 weeks, whether consecutive or not, within the relevant period,”, (b) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3): “(3A) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (3), the Minister may, by regulations, make provision in relation to the documentary proof, including the information or specific documentation to be provided by a self-employed person in support of his or her claim for carer’s benefit, and, notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, any such regulations may provide for— (a) the provision by a person of documentary evidence of the nature, extent and duration of his or her self-employment, and (b) such other matters as the Minister considers appropriate for the purposes of this Chapter.”, (c) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (5): “(5) In this section, ‘engaged in insurable full-time employment’ means engaged— (a) in insurable employment as an employed contributor, or (b) in insurable self-employment as a self-employed contributor, for not less than 16 hours a week within the 8 weeks referred to in subsection (1)(a) or any period that may be prescribed under subsection (6), provided that where any 2 of those weeks are consecutive, the requirement in relation to those 2 weeks may be satisfied by an aggregate of not less than 32 hours in that fortnight.”, and (d) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (6): “(6) Regulations may provide that, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed, in the case of a person who was absent from his or her employment within the relevant period referred to in subsection (1)(a), by reason of being on such leave from that employment as may be prescribed, the condition specified in subsection (1)(a) shall be regarded as being satisfied in respect of that person if he or she was engaged in insurable full-time employment for 8 weeks, whether consecutive or not, within the relevant period (other than the relevant period referred to in that subsection) that may be prescribed (and the period that may be so prescribed may comprise 2 or more periods which, taken together, amount to a period of 26 weeks).”.

Additional payment for newborn or adopted child 11. (1) The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 221A: “221B. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and this Act, and notwithstanding any monthly benefit made or payable under section 221(1), a qualified person shall become entitled to one, and only one, additional payment of €280.00 in respect of a qualified child where in respect of the qualified child— (a) the date of birth of that qualified child falls on or after 1 December 2024, or (b) the day of placement of that qualified child occurs on or after 1 December 2024.

Carer’s support grant – new rate 12. (1) Section 225 (amended by section 11 of the Social Welfare Act 2020 ) of the Principal Act is amended, in subsection (1), by the substitution of “€2,000” for “€1,850”.

Working family payment 13. (1) The Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 228: “228. Subject to this Act, an allowance (in this Act referred to as ‘working family payment’) shall be payable out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas in respect of a family where the weekly family income is less than— (a) in the case of a family which includes only 1 child, €705, (b) in the case of a family which includes 2 children, €806, (c) in the case of a family which includes 3 children, €907, (d) in the case of a family which includes 4 children, €998, (e) in the case of a family which includes 5 children, €1,124, (f) in the case of a family which includes 6 children, €1,240, (g) in the case of a family which includes 7 children, €1,376, or (h) in the case of a family which includes 8 or more children, €1,472.”.

Section 292 of Principal Act – modification of effect for certain period

Reduction of rates and weekly amounts in certain circumstances 15. (1) The Principal Act is amended— (a) in section 65(2) (amended by section 12(3) of the Act of 2013) by the substitution of “€90” for “€44”, (b) in section 65A(2) (amended by section 9(2) of the Act of 2023)— (i) by the substitution, in paragraph (a), of “€69.10” for “€84.30”, (ii) by the substitution, in paragraph (b), of “€99.30” for “€121.20”, and (iii) by the substitution, in paragraph (c), of “€120.60” for “€147.20”, (c) in section 68E(2) (inserted by section 5 of the Social Welfare Act 2019), by the substitution of “€90” for “€44”, (d) in section 68F(2) (amended by section 9(5) of the Act of 2023)— (i) by the substitution, in paragraph (a), of “€69.10” for “€84.30”, (ii) by the substitution, in paragraph (b), of “€99.30” for “€121.20”, and (iii) by the substitution, in paragraph (c), of “€120.60” for “€147.20”, (e) in section 142(1A) by the substitution of “€90” for “€44”, (f) in section 142A(1A) by the substitution of “€50” for “€25”, and (g) in section 197— (i) by the substitution, in subsection (1A), of “€88” for “€42”, and (ii) by the substitution, in subsection (2A), of “€50” for “€25”.

Social insurance benefits – new rates 16. (1) Schedule 2 (amended by section 17 of the Act of 2023) to the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the Parts set out in Schedule 1 for Parts 1 to 4 of Schedule 2 to the Principal Act.

Social assistance payments – new rates 17. (1) Schedule 4 (amended by section 19 of the Act of 2023) to the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the Parts set out in Schedule 2 for Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4.

Domiciliary care allowance – new rate 18. (1) Part 5 of Schedule 4 (amended by section 20 of the Act of 2023) to the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of “€360.00” for “€340.00”.

Short title and construction 19. (1) This Act may be cited as the Social Welfare Act 2024.

SCHEDULE 1 Social Insurance Benefits (New Rates) - Substitution of Parts 1 to 4 of Schedule 2

Section 16

“PART 1 RATES OF PERIODICAL BENEFITS AND INCREASES Description of benefit

244.00 162.00 50.00 62.00 - - - 2. Death Benefit: (a) pension payable to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner (section 81) 274.50 - 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 Additional increase for a widow, widower or surviving civil partner (under section 81) who has attained pensionable age 19.20 - - - - - - (b) pension payable to a parent: (i) reduced rate - - - - - - - (ii) maximum rate - - - - - - - (c) pension payable to an orphan 230.80 - - - - - - 3. State Pension (Contributory): (a)(i) Age referenced rate for age 66 years 289.30 192.70 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 (ii) Additional increase for a qualified adult who has attained pensionable age - 66.70 - - - - - (b)(i) Age referenced rate for age 67 years 302.90 201.80 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 (ii) Additional increase for a qualified adult who has attained pensionable age - 69.80 - - - - - (c)(i) Age referenced rate for age 68 years 317.90 211.80 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 (ii) Additional increase for a qualified adult who has attained pensionable age - 73.30 - - - - - (d)(i) Age referenced rate for age 69 years 334.10 222.60 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 (ii) Additional increase for a qualified adult who has attained pensionable age - 77.00 - - - - - (e)(i) Age referenced rate for age 70 years 351.80 234.30 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 (ii) Additional increase for a qualified adult who has attained pensionable age - 81.10 - - - - - 3A. State Pension (Transitional): - - - - - - - Additional increase where a qualified adult has attained pensionable age before 2 January 2014 - - - - - - - 4. Invalidity Pension:

249.50 178.30 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 Additional increase where a qualified adult has attained pensionable age before 2 January 2014 - 81.10 - - - - - 5. Widow’s (Contributory) Pension, Widower’s (Contributory) Pension and Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension and a payment referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of “relevant payment” in section 178(1):

249.50 - 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 Additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age 39.80 - - - - - - 6. Guardian’s Payment (Contributory):

227.00 - - - - - - 7. Carer’s Benefit: (a) in the case of a person to whom section 102(1)(b) applies 261.00 - 50.00 62.00 - - - (b) in the case of a person to whom section 102(1)(a) applies 391.50 - 50.00 62.00 - - -

PART 2

OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES BENEFITS - GRATUITIES AND GRANT Description of Grant

Maximum gratuity 19,240 2. Death Benefit 850

PART 3

DISABLEMENT PENSION Degree of disablement

PART 4

INCREASES OF DISABLEMENT PENSION Description of Increase

SCHEDULE 2 Social Assistance Payments (New Rates) - Substitution of Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4

Section 17

“PART 1 RATES OF PERIODICAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE AND INCREASES Description of benefit

244.00 162.00 50.00 62.00 22.00 - 20.00 4. State Pension (Non-Contributory):

278.00 183.60 50.00 62.00 22.00 10.00 20.00 5. Blind Pension:

244.00 162.00 50.00 62.00 22.00 - 20.00 6. Widow’s (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widower’s (Non-Contributory) Pension, Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension and a payment referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of “relevant payment” in section 178(1):

244.00 - - - - - - 7. One-Parent Family Payment:

244.00 - 50.00 62.00 - - - 8. Carer’s Allowance: (a) in the case of a person to whom section 181(1)(a) applies 390.00 - 50.00 62.00 - 10.00 20.00 Additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age 57.00 - - - - - - (b) in the case of a person to whom section 181(1)(b) applies 260.00 - 50.00 62.00 - 10.00 20.00 additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age 38.00 - - - - - - 9. Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory):

227.00 - - - - - - 10. Supplementary Welfare Allowance: (a) in the case of a person to whom section 197(1) applies 242.00 162.00 50.00 62.00 - - - (b) in the case of a person to whom section 197(2) applies 153.70 153.70 - - - - - 11. Farm Assist:

244.00 162.00 50.00 62.00 - - -

PART 2

INCREASES OF STATE PENSION (NON-CONTRIBUTORY) FOR ONE OF A COUPLE WHERE SPOUSE, CIVIL PARTNER OR COHABITANT OF THAT PERSON HAS NOT ATTAINED PENSIONABLE AGE Means of claimant or pensioner

94.40 exceed €165.00 but do not exceed €167.50 92.80 exceed €167.50 but do not exceed €170.00 91.10 exceed €170.00 but do not exceed €172.50 89.50 exceed €172.50 but do not exceed €175.00 87.80 exceed €175.00 but do not exceed €177.50 86.20 exceed €177.50 but do not exceed €180.00 84.50 exceed €180.00 but do not exceed €182.50 82.90 exceed €182.50 but do not exceed €185.00 81.20 exceed €185.00 but do not exceed €187.50 79.60 exceed €187.50 but do not exceed €190.00 77.90 exceed €190.00 but do not exceed €192.50 76.30 exceed €192.50 but do not exceed €195.00 74.60 exceed €195.00 but do not exceed €197.50 73.00 exceed €197.50 but do not exceed €200.00 71.30 exceed €200.00 but do not exceed €202.50 69.70 exceed €202.50 but do not exceed €205.00 68.00 exceed €205.00 but do not exceed €207.50 66.40 exceed €207.50 but do not exceed €210.00 64.70 exceed €210.00 but do not exceed €212.50 63.10 exceed €212.50 but do not exceed €215.00 61.40 exceed €215.00 but do not exceed €217.50 59.80 exceed €217.50 but do not exceed €220.00 58.10 exceed €220.00 but do not exceed €222.50 56.50 exceed €222.50 but do not exceed €225.00 54.80 exceed €225.00 but do not exceed €227.50 53.20 exceed €227.50 but do not exceed €230.00 51.50 exceed €230.00 but do not exceed €232.50 49.90 exceed €232.50 but do not exceed €235.00 48.20 exceed €235.00 but do not exceed €237.50 46.60 exceed €237.50 but do not exceed €240.00 44.90 exceed €240.00 but do not exceed €242.50 43.30 exceed €242.50 but do not exceed €245.00 41.60 exceed €245.00 but do not exceed €247.50 40.00 exceed €247.50 but do not exceed €250.00 38.30 exceed €250.00 but do not exceed €252.50 36.70 exceed €252.50 but do not exceed €255.00 35.00 exceed €255.00 but do not exceed €257.50 33.40 exceed €257.50 but do not exceed €260.00 31.70 exceed €260.00 but do not exceed €262.50 30.00 exceed €262.50 but do not exceed €265.00 28.40 exceed €265.00 but do not exceed €267.50 26.70 exceed €267.50 but do not exceed €270.00 25.10 exceed €270.00 but do not exceed €272.50 23.40 exceed €272.50 but do not exceed €275.00 21.80 exceed €275.00 but do not exceed €277.50 20.10 exceed €277.50 but do not exceed €280.00 18.50 exceed €280.00 but do not exceed €282.50 16.80 exceed €282.50 but do not exceed €285.00 15.20 exceed €285.00 but do not exceed €287.50 13.50 exceed €287.50 but do not exceed €290.00 11.90 exceed €290.00 but do not exceed €292.50 10.20 exceed €292.50 but do not exceed €295.00 8.60 exceed €295.00 but do not exceed €297.50 6.90 exceed €297.50 but do not exceed €300.00 5.30 exceed €300.00 but do not exceed €302.50 3.60 exceed €302.50 but do not exceed €305.00

2.00 exceed €305.00 Nil

PART 3

INCREASE OF BLIND PENSION FOR ONE OF A COUPLE WHERE SPOUSE, CIVIL PARTNER OR COHABITANT OF THAT PERSON HAS NOT ATTAINED PENSIONABLE AGE Means of claimant or pensioner

70.70 exceed €145.10 but do not exceed €147.60 69.00 exceed €147.60 but do not exceed €150.10 67.40 exceed €150.10 but do not exceed €152.60 65.70 exceed €152.60 but do not exceed €155.10 64.10 exceed €155.10 but do not exceed €157.60 62.40 exceed €157.60 but do not exceed €160.10 60.80 exceed €160.10 but do not exceed €162.60 59.10 exceed €162.60 but do not exceed €165.10 57.40 exceed €165.10 but do not exceed €167.60 55.80 exceed €167.60 but do not exceed €170.10 54.10 exceed €170.10 but do not exceed €172.60 52.50 exceed €172.60 but do not exceed €175.10 50.80 exceed €175.10 but do not exceed €177.60 49.10 exceed €177.60 but do not exceed €180.10 47.50 exceed €180.10 but do not exceed €182.60 45.80 exceed €182.60 but do not exceed €185.10 44.20 exceed €185.10 but do not exceed €187.60 42.50 exceed €187.60 but do not exceed €190.10 40.80 exceed €190.10 but do not exceed €192.60 39.20 exceed €192.60 but do not exceed €195.10 37.50 exceed €195.10 but do not exceed €197.60 35.90 exceed €197.60 but do not exceed €200.10 34.20 exceed €200.10 but do not exceed €202.60 32.50 exceed €202.60 but do not exceed €205.10 30.90 exceed €205.10 but do not exceed €207.60 29.20 exceed €207.60 but do not exceed €210.10 27.60 exceed €210.10 but do not exceed €212.60 25.90 exceed €212.60 but do not exceed €215.10 24.20 exceed €215.10 but do not exceed €217.60 22.60 exceed €217.60 but do not exceed €220.10 20.90 exceed €220.10 but do not exceed €222.60 19.30 exceed €222.60 but do not exceed €225.10 17.60 exceed €225.10 but do not exceed €227.60 15.90 exceed €227.60 but do not exceed €230.10 14.30 exceed €230.10 but do not exceed €232.60 12.60 exceed €232.60 but do not exceed €235.10 11.00 exceed €235.10 but do not exceed €237.60 9.30 exceed €237.60 but do not exceed €240.10 7.60 exceed €240.10 but do not exceed €242.60 6.00 exceed €242.60 but do not exceed €245.10 4.30 exceed €245.10 but do not exceed €247.60 2.70 exceed €247.60 Nil ”.

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