SOCIAL Protection Minister Heather Humphreys is pushing for a €15 increase in the State pension – but the jobseeker’s allowance won’t see the same rate increase.
The Budget 2025 move would boost the weekly pension payment to €292.30 for OAPs, after it was hiked by €12 per week in Budget 2024.
The weekly rate for the State Pension (Contributory) ranges from €110.80 to €277.30 and the amount changes due to the age of those receiving it.
While the weekly rate for the State Pension Non-Contributory ranges from €266 to €276 and increases depending on adult or child dependants.
Minister Humphreys has drafted a plan for the pension boost that would be announced on October 1, the Irish Independent reports.
She explained that if the jobseeker’s allowance was increased by €15, it may affect possible increases for other social welfare supports.
The Minister is also calling for a double payment of the state pension and other welfare boosts in October and December – similar to Halloween and Christmas bonus boosts issued back in 2022.
And she is also looking for a once-off payment of €200 for those receiving the living alone allowance.
Pension payments were increased last year by €12.
TDs have reportedly been urging Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe to add €20 each week to the pension as a way to win over older voters.
Budget 2025, set to be announced on October 1, has a €8.3 billion fund set aside for the country.
This includes €1.4 billion allocated to new tax measures which leaves hopes of the rising cost of living being dealt with.
In hopes to tackle the cost of living crisis, many social welfare recipients could bag themselves a cash boost.
The State Pension (Contributory) is given by the state to those from the age of 66 and have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
You must be over 66 and have enough Class A, E, F, G, H, N, or S social insurance contributions to qualify.
These contributions must be paid before a certain age.
To get this form of pension, you must have started paying PRSI before the age of 56.
The amount of PRSI paid is calculated from the first day you began paying the tax and is typically first paid when you began your first job.
This, however, may not be the case when it comes to mixed PRSI contributions or if you were self-employed.
The amount you need for this various on your retirement date, and from this, the Department of Social Protection will calculate it depending on your personal situation.
And the State Pension (Non-Contributory) is given to those who are over 66 years of age and do not qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).
To qualify for this, you must be aged 66 or over, pass a means test and live in Ireland.
MONEY TALKS
And bumper funding to recruit 1,500 more special needs assistants, expand the free school books scheme to all students and build a significant number of new schools is on the cards for Budget 2025, the Irish Sun can reveal.
Government leaders are in the closing stages of negotiating Budget 2025 with the final bilateral talks between the ministers due to be carried out over the coming week.
The Irish Sun understands that reducing the cost of sending kids to school along with significantly expanding supports for children with special needs will be central to the education budget next year.
Government leaders are keen to expand the popular free school books scheme to all students with a final decision expected to be signed off by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe.
The move to ensure Leaving Cert cycle students have access to free school books will save families around €500 a year.
It’s expected to cost around €70million a year to implement.
There will also be significant funding to expand the hot meals programme which sees some primary school children provided with a free lunch.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys is fighting for funding to expand this scheme to all primary schools across the country as part of a rapid expansion.
The Irish Sun can also reveal that Education Minister Norma Foley is pushing for funding to significantly increase the number of special needs classes that are available across the country.
