In a move to ease the cost-of-living crunch, the Government is set to deliver not one, but two social welfare bonus payments before the curtain falls on 2023. This double whammy of financial support is part of a broader budget package aimed at helping Irish families weather the economic storm.
The familiar Christmas bonus, a welcome gift for those on major social welfare schemes like state pensions and jobseekers’ benefit, will arrive as usual in December. But wait, there’s more! A second round of bonus payments is being cooked up for October, hot on the heels of the budget announcement.
These twin bonuses won’t come cheap, with each set expected to lighten the Government’s coffers by a cool €300 million. But for struggling households, it could be just the lifeline they need.
According to Irish Examiner, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys is also eyeing an expansion of the fuel allowance scheme. She’s pushing to lower the age threshold from 70 to 66, potentially bringing warmth and comfort to thousands more retirees this winter.
“I don’t want to see old people in their homes afraid to turn on the heating,” Humphreys declared at the Fine Gael think-in in Tullamore.
But the giving doesn’t stop there. The Minister also gave a nod to last year’s popular double child benefit payment and is entertaining the Green Party’s suggestion of a quadruple payment for new parents. This €560 one-off boost could help ease the financial burden when a little one arrives.
While these proposals paint a rosy picture, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe was quick to remind everyone that the piggy bank isn’t bottomless. With only €1.8 billion available for new spending, the Government will need to balance generosity with fiscal responsibility.
As inflation begins to cool, the cost of everyday essentials remains stubbornly high. For many Irish families, these potential bonuses and expanded benefits could be the helping hand they need to navigate the choppy waters of today’s economy.