Payment dates for eight lump-sum household payments worth €1.2bn revealed 

The cost-of-living payments are focused on pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, and working families

Social protection minister Heather Humphreys. Picture: Lorraine Teevan

The Government has revealed the payment dates for the €1.2bn worth of lump sum social protection supports announced in last month's Budget.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath have set out the details of the eight different lump sums that will be paid between now and Christmas.

Both ministers are due to speak to the media shortly about the cost-of-living payments following Cabinet.

The autumn double lump sum payment will kick in from next October 17, benefitting 1.4m people.

It will be paid to most people who get a weekly social welfare payment including all pensioners, carers and people on disability payments. 

A double child benefit payment will be paid on the week beginning November 1 to 639,000 families for 1.2m children.

The fuel allowance lump sum of €400 will kick in during the week starting November 14 and will benefit 371,000 households with this number set to rise to over 450,000 next year. Also from November 14, a €200 lump-sum payment will be made to 234,000 people in receipt of the living alone allowance.

November 14 will also see €500 cost-of-living payment made to those in receipt of the working family payment while a €500 disability support grant will also be paid that week to 216,000 people receiving disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension. 

A €500 one-off payment will also be made to over 132,000 carers receiving the carers support grant in the week commencing November 21. Ms Humphreys confirmed that the annual Christmas bonus double payment will be paid the week starting December, 5.

Ms Humphreys and Mr McGrath are expected to say the lump-sum payments are designed to protect people during the winter and in light of the acute costs people are facing. From January next year 81,000 more households will be eligible for the fuel allowance.