Social Welfare Act, 2002
In short
This law, the Social Welfare Act, 2002, updates various social welfare payments and contributions, primarily by introducing new rates for benefits and amending earnings ceilings. It aims to adjust the financial support provided under existing social welfare legislation.
What it regulates
- New rates for social insurance benefits.
- New rates for social assistance payments.
- New weekly rates for family income supplement.
- Amendments to earnings ceilings for employment and optional contributions.
Who it concerns
- Individuals receiving social insurance benefits (e.g., unemployment, disability, old age pensions).
- Individuals receiving social assistance payments (e.g., unemployment assistance, disability allowance).
- Families receiving family income supplement.
- Individuals making employment or optional social welfare contributions.
Key points
- Social insurance benefits like Disability Benefit and Unemployment Benefit are set at €124.80 per week.
- Family income supplement weekly income thresholds range from €379 for 1 child to €556 for 8 or more children.
- The earnings ceiling for employment contributions is amended to €40,420.
- Optional contributors must pay an optional contribution of 4 percent of their reckonable income in excess of €2,500, or €200, whichever is greater, up to a ceiling of €40,420.
Legal text
Social Welfare Act, 2002 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.
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- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2002 Social Welfare Act, 2002 Social Welfare Act, 2002 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 31 of 2002 SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 2002 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Definitions. 2. Social insurance benefits (new rates). 3. Social assistance payments (new rates). 4. Family income supplement (new weekly rates). 5. Employment contributions (amendment to earnings ceiling). 6. Optional contributions (new rates of contributions and amendment to income ceiling). 7. Short title and construction. SCHEDULE A SCHEDULE B Acts Referred to Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 1993, No. 27 Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 2001 2001, No. 51 Social Welfare Act, 1996 1996, No. 7 Number 31 of 2002 SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 2002 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ACTS. [19th December, 2002] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Definitions. 1.—In this Act— “Act of 1996” means the Social Welfare Act, 1996 ; “No. 2 Act of 2001” means the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 2001 ; “Principal Act” means the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 . Social insurance benefits (new rates). 2.—
- a)in so far as it relates to unemployment benefit, on 26 December 2002, (
- b)in so far as it relates to disability benefit, health and safety benefit, injury benefit and disablement gratuity, on 30 December 2002, (
- c)in so far as it relates to carer's benefit, retirement pension, invalidity pension and a relevant payment by virtue of section 18
- a)of the Act of 1996, on 2 January 2003, and (
- d)in so far as it relates to disablement pension, death benefit under section 60, 61 or 62 of the Principal Act, old age (contributory) pension, widow's and widower's (contributory) pension and orphan's (contributory) allowance, on 3 January 2003. Social assistance payments (new rates). 3.—
- a)in so far as it relates to unemployment assistance, pre-retirement allowance and farm assist, on 25 December 2002, (
- b)in so far as it relates to supplementary welfare allowance, on 30 December 2002, (
- c)in so far as it relates to disability allowance, on 1 January 2003, (
- d)in so far as it relates to one-parent family payment (other than where payable in respect of a widow or widower), carer's allowance and a relevant payment by virtue of section 18
- b)or (
- c)of the Act of 1996, on 2 January 2003, and (
- e)in so far as it relates to old age (non-contributory) pension, blind pension, widow's and widower's (non-contributory) pension, one-parent family payment payable in respect of a widow or widower and orphan's (non-contributory) pension, on 3 January 2003. Family income supplement (new weekly rates). 4.—
- a)in the case of a family which includes only 1 child, €379, (
- b)in the case of a family which includes 2 children, €405, (
- c)in the case of a family which includes 3 children, €430, (
- d)in the case of a family which includes 4 children, €455, (
- e)in the case of a family which includes 5 children, €487, (
- f)in the case of a family which includes 6 children, €513, (
- g)in the case of a family which includes 7 children, €534, or (
- h)in the case of a family which includes 8 or more children, €556.”.
- a)by substituting the following for paragraph (a): “(
- a)Subject to paragraph (b), an optional contributor shall pay an optional contribution of an amount equal to 4 per cent. of his or her reckonable income in excess of €2,500 in the preceding contribution year, or €200, whichever is the greater.”, and (
- b)in paragraph (
- b)(as amended by section 6
- a)pension payable to a widow or widower (section 60) ... ... ... 153.60 -- 21.60 86.50 7.70 -- 12.70 additional increase for a widow or widower (under section 60) who has attained pensionable age ... ... ... 8.10 -- -- -- -- -- -- (
- b)pension payable to a parent: (
- i)reduced rate ... 74.30 -- -- 86.50 7.70 -- -- (
- ii)maximum rate ... 153.60 -- -- 86.50 7.70 -- -- (
- c)pension payable to an orphan ... ... 99.90 -- -- -- -- -- -- 3. Old Age (Contributory) Pension and Retirement Pension: ... 157.30 104.80 19.30 86.50 7.70 6.40 12.70 additional increase for a qualified adult who has attained pensionable age ... ... -- 16.70 -- -- -- -- -- 4. Invalidity Pension: ... ... 130.30 93.00 19.30 86.50 7.70 6.40 12.70 additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained the age of 65 years ... ... 27.00 -- -- -- -- -- -- additional increase where qualified adult has attained pensionable age ... ... -- 20.10 -- -- -- -- -- 5. Widow's and Widower's (Contributory) Pension and a relevant payment by virtue of section 18
- a)of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 ... ... 130.30 -- 21.60 86.50 7.70 6.40 12.70 additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age ... ... 25.50 -- -- -- -- -- -- 6. Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance ... ... ... 97.00 -- -- -- -- -- -- 7. Carer's Benefit: (
- a)in the case of a person to whom section 82D
- b)applies ... ... 139.70 -- 16.80 -- -- -- -- (
- b)in the case of a person to whom section 82D
- Disablement Benefit: Maximum gratuity ... ... ... ... ... ... 10,910
- Death Benefit ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 635 PART III Disablement Pension Degree of Disablement Weekly Rate
- Increase where the person is permanently incapable of work ... ... ... ... 124.80 7.70
- Increase where the person requires constant attendance ... ... ... ... ... 139.70 -- ”. SCHEDULE B Section
- “PART I Rates of Periodical Social Assistance and Increases Thereof Description of assistance Weekly rate Increase for qualified adult (where payable) Increase for each qualified child (where payable) Increase for prescribed relative under section 167 (where payable) Increase where the person is living alone (where payable) Increase where the person has attained the age of 80 years (where payable) Increase where the person is ordinarily resident on an island off the coast of Ireland (where payable)
- a)applies... ... ... 124.80 82.80 16.80 -- -- -- -- (
- b)in the case of a person to whom section 121
- Pre-Retirement Allowance ... 124.80 82.80 16.80 -- -- -- --
- Disability Allowance ... 124.80 82.80 16.80 -- 7.70 -- --
- Old Age (Non-Contributory) Pension ... ... ... 144.00 -- 16.80 86.50 7.70 6.40 12.70
- Blind Pension: 124.80 -- 16.80 86.50 7.70 6.40 12.70 additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age ... ... 19.20 -- -- -- -- -- --
- Widow's (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension and a relevant payment by virtue of section 18
- b)or (
- c)of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 : 124.80 -- -- 86.50 7.70 6.40 12.70 additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age ... ... 19.20 -- -- -- -- -- -- 7. One-Parent Family Payment: 124.80 -- 19.30 -- -- 6.40 12.70 additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age ... ... 19.20 -- -- -- -- -- -- 8. Carer's Allowance: (
- a)in the case of a person to whom section 165
- a)applies ... ... 194.40 -- 16.80 -- -- -- 12.70 additional increase for a beneficiary who has attained pensionable age ... ... 27.30 -- -- -- -- -- -- (
- b)in the case of a person to whom section 165
- Orphan's (Non-Contributory) Pension ... ... ... 97.00 -- -- -- -- -- --
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance ... ... 124.80 82.80 16.80 -- -- -- --
- Farm Assist ... ... 124.80 82.80 16.80 -- -- -- -- PART II Increase of Old Age (Non-Contributory) Pension for One of a Couple and Increase in Blind Pension for One of a Couple Where Both Beneficiary and Spouse have attained Pensionable Age Means of claimant or pensioner Weekly rate of increase € Where the weekly means of the claimant or pensioner do not exceed €7.60 95.20 exceed €7.60 but do not exceed €10.10 93.50 exceed €10.10 but do not exceed €12.60 91.90 exceed €12.60 but do not exceed €15.10 90.20 exceed €15.10 but do not exceed €17.60 88.60 exceed €17.60 but do not exceed €20.10 86.90 exceed €20.10 but do not exceed €22.60 85.30 exceed €22.60 but do not exceed €25.10 83.60 exceed €25.10 but do not exceed €27.60 82.00 exceed €27.60 but do not exceed €30.10 80.30 exceed €30.10 but do not exceed €32.60 78.70 exceed €32.60 but do not exceed €35.10 77.00 exceed €35.10 but do not exceed €37.60 75.40 exceed €37.60 but do not exceed €40.10 73.70 exceed €40.10 but do not exceed €42.60 72.10 exceed €42.60 but do not exceed €45.10 70.40 exceed €45.10 but do not exceed €47.60 68.80 exceed €47.60 but do not exceed €50.10 67.10 exceed €50.10 but do not exceed €52.60 65.40 exceed €52.60 but do not exceed €55.10 63.80 exceed €55.10 but do not exceed €57.60 62.10 exceed €57.60 but do not exceed €60.10 60.50 exceed €60.10 but do not exceed €62.60 58.80 exceed €62.60 but do not exceed €65.10 57.20 exceed €65.10 but do not exceed €67.60 55.50 exceed €67.60 but do not exceed €70.10 53.90 exceed €70.10 but do not exceed €72.60 52.20 exceed €72.60 but do not exceed €75.10 50.60 exceed €75.10 but do not exceed €77.60 48.90 exceed €77.60 but do not exceed €80.10 47.30 exceed €80.10 but do not exceed €82.60 45.60 exceed €82.60 but do not exceed €85.10 44.00 exceed €85.10 but do not exceed €87.60 42.30 exceed €87.60 but do not exceed €90.10 40.70 exceed €90.10 but do not exceed €92.60 39.00 exceed €92.60 but do not exceed €95.10 37.40 exceed €95.10 but do not exceed €97.60 35.70 exceed €97.60 but do not exceed €100.10 34.00 exceed €100.10 but do not exceed €102.60 32.40 exceed €102.60 but do not exceed €105.10 30.70 exceed €105.10 but do not exceed €107.60 29.10 exceed €107.60 but do not exceed €110.10 27.40 exceed €110.10 but do not exceed €112.60 25.80 exceed €112.60 but do not exceed €115.10 24.10 exceed €115.10 but do not exceed €117.60 22.50 exceed €117.60 but do not exceed €120.10 20.80 exceed €120.10 but do not exceed €122.60 19.20 exceed €122.60 but do not exceed €125.10 17.50 exceed €125.10 but do not exceed €127.60 15.90 exceed €127.60 but do not exceed €130.10 14.20 exceed €130.10 but do not exceed €132.60 12.60 exceed €132.60 but do not exceed €135.10 10.90 exceed €135.10 but do not exceed €137.60 9.30 exceed €137.60 but do not exceed €140.10 7.60 exceed €140.10 but do not exceed €142.60 5.90 exceed €142.60 but do not exceed €145.10 4.30 exceed €145.10 but do not exceed €147.60 2.60 exceed €147.60 Nil PART IIA Increase of Blind Pension for One of a Couple Where Both Beneficiary and Spouse have not attained Pensionable Age Means of claimant or pensioner Weekly rate of increase € Where the weekly means of the claimant or pensioner do not exceed €7.60 82.80 exceed €7.60 but do not exceed €10.10 81.10 exceed €10.10 but do not exceed €12.60 79.50 exceed €12.60 but do not exceed €15.10 77.80 exceed €15.10 but do not exceed €17.60 76.20 exceed €17.60 but do not exceed €20.10 74.50 exceed €20.10 but do not exceed €22.60 72.80 exceed €22.60 but do not exceed €25.10 71.20 exceed €25.10 but do not exceed €27.60 69.50 exceed €27.60 but do not exceed €30.10 67.90 exceed €30.10 but do not exceed €32.60 66.20 exceed €32.60 but do not exceed €35.10 64.50 exceed €35.10 but do not exceed €37.60 62.90 exceed €37.60 but do not exceed €40.10 61.20 exceed €40.10 but do not exceed €42.60 59.60 exceed €42.60 but do not exceed €45.10 57.90 exceed €45.10 but do not exceed €47.60 56.30 exceed €47.60 but do not exceed €50.10 54.60 exceed €50.10 but do not exceed €52.60 52.90 exceed €52.60 but do not exceed €55.10 51.30 exceed €55.10 but do not exceed €57.60 49.60 exceed €57.60 but do not exceed €60.10 48.00 exceed €60.10 but do not exceed €62.60 46.30 exceed €62.60 but do not exceed €65.10 44.60 exceed €65.10 but do not exceed €67.60 43.00 exceed €67.60 but do not exceed €70.10 41.30 exceed €70.10 but do not exceed €72.60 39.70 exceed €72.60 but do not exceed €75.10 38.00 exceed €75.10 but do not exceed €77.60 36.40 exceed €77.60 but do not exceed €80.10 35.20 exceed €80.10 but do not exceed €82.60 33.90 exceed €82.60 but do not exceed €85.10 32.60 exceed €85.10 but do not exceed €87.60 31.30 exceed €87.60 but do not exceed €90.10 28.10 exceed €90.10 but do not exceed €92.60 26.40 exceed €92.60 but do not exceed €95.10 24.70 exceed €95.10 but do not exceed €97.60 23.10 exceed €97.60 but do not exceed €100.10 21.40 exceed €100.10 but do not exceed €102.60 19.80 exceed €102.60 but do not exceed €105.10 18.10 exceed €105.10 but do not exceed €107.60 16.50 exceed €107.60 but do not exceed €110.10 14.80 exceed €110.10 but do not exceed €112.60 13.10 exceed €112.60 but do not exceed €115.10 11.50 exceed €115.10 but do not exceed €117.60 9.80 exceed €117.60 but do not exceed €120.10 8.20 exceed €120.10 but do not exceed €122.60 6.50 exceed €122.60 but do not exceed €125.10 4.80 exceed €125.10 but do not exceed €127.60 3.20 exceed €127.60 Nil PART IIB Increase of Blind Pension for One of a Couple Where Beneficiary has not attained Pensionable age and Spouse has attained Pensionable Age Means of claimant or pensioner Weekly rate of increase € Where the weekly means of the claimant or pensioner do not exceed €7.60 95.20 exceed €7.60 but do not exceed €10.10 93.30 exceed €10.10 but do not exceed €12.60 91.40 exceed €12.60 but do not exceed €15.10 89.50 exceed €15.10 but do not exceed €17.60 87.60 exceed €17.60 but do not exceed €20.10 85.70 exceed €20.10 but do not exceed €22.60 83.80 exceed €22.60 but do not exceed €25.10 81.80 exceed €25.10 but do not exceed €27.60 79.90 exceed €27.60 but do not exceed €30.10 78.00 exceed €30.10 but do not exceed €32.60 76.10 exceed €32.60 but do not exceed €35.10 74.20 exceed €35.10 but do not exceed €37.60 72.30 exceed €37.60 but do not exceed €40.10 70.40 exceed €40.10 but do not exceed €42.60 68.50 exceed €42.60 but do not exceed €45.10 66.60 exceed €45.10 but do not exceed €47.60 64.70 exceed €47.60 but do not exceed €50.10 62.80 exceed €50.10 but do not exceed €52.60 60.90 exceed €52.60 but do not exceed €55.10 59.00 exceed €55.10 but do not exceed €57.60 57.10 exceed €57.60 but do not exceed €60.10 55.20 exceed €60.10 but do not exceed €62.60 53.20 exceed €62.60 but do not exceed €65.10 51.30 exceed €65.10 but do not exceed €67.60 49.40 exceed €67.60 but do not exceed €70.10 47.50 exceed €70.10 but do not exceed €72.60 45.60 exceed €72.60 but do not exceed €75.10 43.70 exceed €75.10 but do not exceed €77.60 42.20 exceed €77.60 but do not exceed €80.10 40.90 exceed €80.10 but do not exceed €82.60 39.70 exceed €82.60 but do not exceed €85.10 38.40 exceed €85.10 but do not exceed €87.60 37.10 exceed €87.60 but do not exceed €90.10 35.90 exceed €90.10 but do not exceed €92.60 34.60 exceed €92.60 but do not exceed €95.10 33.30 exceed €95.10 but do not exceed €97.60 32.00 exceed €97.60 but do not exceed €100.10 30.80 exceed €100.10 but do not exceed €102.60 22.70 exceed €102.60 but do not exceed €105.10 20.80 exceed €105.10 but do not exceed €107.60 18.90 exceed €107.60 but do not exceed €110.10 17.00 exceed €110.10 but do not exceed €112.60 15.10 exceed €112.60 but do not exceed €115.10 13.20 exceed €115.10 but do not exceed €117.60 11.30 exceed €117.60 but do not exceed €120.10 9.40 exceed €120.10 but do not exceed €122.60 7.50 exceed €122.60 but do not exceed €125.10 5.60 exceed €125.10 but do not exceed €127.60 3.70 exceed €127.60 Nil PART IIC Increase of Blind Pension for One of a Couple Where Beneficiary has attained Pensionable Age and Spouse has not attained Pensionable Age Means of claimant or pensioner Weekly rate of increase € Where the weekly means of the claimant or pensioner do not exceed €7.60 82.80 exceed €7.60 but do not exceed €10.10 81.40 exceed €10.10 but do not exceed €12.60 79.90 exceed €12.60 but do not exceed €15.10 78.50 exceed €15.10 but do not exceed €17.60 77.10 exceed €17.60 but do not exceed €20.10 75.60 exceed €20.10 but do not exceed €22.60 74.20 exceed €22.60 but do not exceed €25.10 72.70 exceed €25.10 but do not exceed €27.60 71.30 exceed €27.60 but do not exceed €30.10 69.90 exceed €30.10 but do not exceed €32.60 68.40 exceed €32.60 but do not exceed €35.10 67.00 exceed €35.10 but do not exceed €37.60 65.60 exceed €37.60 but do not exceed €40.10 64.10 exceed €40.10 but do not exceed €42.60 62.70 exceed €42.60 but do not exceed €45.10 61.20 exceed €45.10 but do not exceed €47.60 59.80 exceed €47.60 but do not exceed €50.10 58.40 exceed €50.10 but do not exceed €52.60 56.90 exceed €52.60 but do not exceed €55.10 55.50 exceed €55.10 but do not exceed €57.60 54.10 exceed €57.60 but do not exceed €60.10 52.60 exceed €60.10 but do not exceed €62.60 51.20 exceed €62.60 but do not exceed €65.10 49.70 exceed €65.10 but do not exceed €67.60 48.30 exceed €67.60 but do not exceed €70.10 46.90 exceed €70.10 but do not exceed €72.60 45.40 exceed €72.60 but do not exceed €75.10 44.00 exceed €75.10 but do not exceed €77.60 42.60 exceed €77.60 but do not exceed €80.10 41.10 exceed €80.10 but do not exceed €82.60 39.70 exceed €82.60 but do not exceed €85.10 38.20 exceed €85.10 but do not exceed €87.60 36.80 exceed €87.60 but do not exceed €90.10 35.40 exceed €90.10 but do not exceed €92.60 33.90 exceed €92.60 but do not exceed €95.10 32.50 exceed €95.10 but do not exceed €97.60 31.10 exceed €97.60 but do not exceed €100.10 29.60 exceed €100.10 but do not exceed €102.60 28.20 exceed €102.60 but do not exceed €105.10 26.70 exceed €105.10 but do not exceed €107.60 25.30 exceed €107.60 but do not exceed €110.10 23.90 exceed €110.10 but do not exceed €112.60 22.40 exceed €112.60 but do not exceed €115.10 21.00 exceed €115.10 but do not exceed €117.60 19.60 exceed €117.60 but do not exceed €120.10 18.10 exceed €120.10 but do not exceed €122.60 16.70 exceed €122.60 but do not exceed €125.10 15.20 exceed €125.10 but do not exceed €127.60 13.80 exceed €127.60 but do not exceed €130.10 12.40 exceed €130.10 but do not exceed €132.60 10.90 exceed €132.60 but do not exceed €135.10 9.50 exceed €135.10 but do not exceed €137.60 8.10 exceed €137.60 but do not exceed €140.10 6.60 exceed €140.10 but do not exceed €142.60 5.20 exceed €142.60 but do not exceed €145.10 3.70 exceed €145.10 but do not exceed €147.60 2.30 exceed €147.60 Nil ”. 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