Two social welfare bonus payments before end of year in budget spend

The two sets of payments are expected to cost €300m apiece. Picture: File

The Government is preparing to make two social welfare bonus payments before the end of the year as part of a cost-of-living budget package.

The traditional Christmas bonus on all major social welfare payments, including the state pension and jobseekers' benefit, will be given in December as normal.

There are now also plans for a second set of bonus payments to be paid in the immediate aftermath of the budget in October.

A senior Government source said the measure is on the table as part of a budget cost-of-living package.

The two sets of payments are expected to cost €300m apiece.

Government leaders have reiterated in recent weeks that there will be a significant cost-of-living element to the overall budget to help families struggling with food, energy bills, transport costs, and rent.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has also made a call to expand access to the state fuel allowance, signalling that those over the age of 66 should be granted the payment.

Heather Humphreys has signalled that those over the age of 66 should be granted the fuel allowance. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Speaking at the Fine Gael think-in in Tullamore, Ms Humphreys said she did not want to see “old people in their home afraid to turn on the heating”.

“So this year I am looking at maybe reducing that age to those over 66 — when you retire,” Ms Humphreys said.

Currently, anyone over the age of 70 can receive the €33-a-week fuel allowance, provided they do not have an income of more than €512 a week for a single person, or €1,024 for a couple.

One Government source said the change would bring thousands more people under the payment scheme, which is administered between September and April.

Ms Humphreys also spoke of how “popular” the double child benefit payment had been last year, while also backing the Green Party’s suggestion for a quadruple child benefit payment for parents when a child is born.

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The €560 one-off payment, suggested by Minister Roderic O’Gorman, is being floated to help parents deal with increased bills required when a newborn arrives.

“I have discussed it with my officials and I actually think it’s a good idea,” Ms Humphreys said.

“But again, these things all have to be considered in the context of the budget,” she said.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said the overall budget package needed to be “in line with the sensible approach” taken in recent years, while highlighting that there is only €1.8bn available for new spending measures.

Ms Humphreys said that while inflation has reduced in recent months, the cost of everyday items remains high for families.