1.4m people will get autumn double payment this week 

The beneficiaries of the extra payments in the largest social protection budget in the history of the State include 590,000 pensioners as well as jobseekers, carers, people with disabilities, and families. Stock picture

Some 1.4m people are to receive the autumn double social protection payment this week to help to ease the pressure of the cost of living.

It will be the first of eight lump sum payments paid out between now and Christmas.