Budget 2027
Budget 2027: social welfare increases from January 2027
Last updated 16 October 2026
Most weekly welfare payments rise by €10 from January 2027. More for Fuel Allowance, Child Support and Living Alone, and a €500 disability payment.
Budget 2027 raises the maximum rate of most weekly social welfare payments and pensions by €10 from January 2027. Increases for qualified adults (partners the payment includes) and reduced rates are in proportion. Welfare rates are set through social welfare law, not the Finance Bill. The tax changes announced on the same day take effect when Finance (No. 2) Bill 2026 is enacted.
Weekly rates
| Payment (maximum weekly rate) | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| State Pension (Contributory), under 80 | €299.30 | €309.30 |
| Jobseeker's Benefit and Allowance (25 and over) | €254 | €264 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance (under 25) | €163.70 | €173.70 |
| Carer's Allowance (under 66) | €270 | €280 |
| Maternity, Paternity and Parent's Benefit | €299 | €309 |
| Fuel Allowance | €38 | €43 |
| Living Alone Increase | €22 | €25 |
| Child Support Payment, under 12 | €58 | €64 |
| Child Support Payment, 12 and over | €78 | €84 |
Child Benefit stays at €140 a month. The full list is on Citizens Information's social welfare rates for 2027.
What it means over a year
| State pensioner living alone: pension, 52 weeks × €10 | €520.00 |
| Living Alone Increase, 52 weeks × €3 | €156.00 |
| Extra in 2027, before any Fuel Allowance | €676.00 |
Other changes
- a 100% Christmas bonus for people on qualifying payments in the week starting 7 December 2026
- a once-off €500 Cost of Disability payment in 2027 for people on long-term disability payments such as Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension
- Fuel Allowance's income limit for a single person aged 66 or over rises from €534 to €640.80 a week
- Working Family Payment income limits rise by €30 a week for all family sizes
- from July 2027, the Carer's Allowance disregard (income not counted) rises to €1,150 a week for a single person and €2,300 for a couple
- from July 2027, the earnings disregard for One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, Disability Allowance and Blind Pension rises by €10 to €175 a week
- employment scheme top-ups for Community Employment, Tús and the Rural Social Scheme rise by €2.50 to €35 a week
Source: Citizens Information, Budget 2027.
Tax on welfare payments
Some payments, such as the State Pension and Maternity Benefit, are taxable income, though no USC or PRSI is charged on them. If they rise, check your tax credit certificate in myAccount in January.
Work it out
- State Pension forecast →
- Child Benefit for your family →
- Working Family Payment →
- Maternity, paternity, adoptive and parent's benefit →
- Disability Allowance: can I get it, and how much? →
Sources
- Citizens Information: Social welfare rates 2027 (checked 25/10/2026)
- Citizens Information: Budget 2027 (checked 25/10/2026)
- Government of Ireland: Budget in Brief 2027 (checked 25/10/2026)
General information, not tax advice. HeyPenny is not a tax agent.