Budget 2026: Here are the changes to social welfare payments and when they kick in

Budget 2026 boosts social welfare by €2bn with increases for pensioners, carers and families

In Budget 2026, the Government announced a €28.9bn allocation for the Department of Social Protection, including an increase of more than €2bn on the previous year.

It provides a €10 weekly increase for people receiving social welfare payments, along with several other key measures.