Details for three lump sum cost-of living supports being paid this week have been announced, along with a new scheme to improve access to the State Pension for long-term carers.

The lump sum social welfare payments will be paid throughout the week. They include €400 for carers, €200 for those who receive the Living Alone Increase and a €100 lump sum payment for those getting an Increase for a Qualified Child.

Here are the exact dates of the lump sum supports being paid this week:

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• On Thursday, November 30, some 120,000 Carers will receive a lump sum payment of €400
• From Wednesday, November 29 to Friday, December 1, a €200 lump sum payment will be paid to the approximately 240,000 people in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance (payment day differs per recipient)
• Throughout the week, a lump sum of €100 per child will be paid to families in respect of 370,000 qualified children (payment day differs per recipient). This is paid to people who receive an Increase for a Qualified Child on their primary social welfare payment

People will receive the lump sum payment in addition to and on the same day that they usually receive their primary payment. All the lump sum and double payments are automatically paid - people do not need to apply for them.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys TD said the €400 Cost of Living lump sum for carers will be paid automatically on Thursday to those who are receiving the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the standalone Carer’s Support Grant, at an estimated cost of almost €48 million.

The lump sum payment of €400 to people getting Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension (paid week commencing November 20) and/or Carer’s Support Grant, is only payable in respect of one payment, even if you qualify for more than one of the payments or are caring for more than one person.

In addition to the Carer’s cost of living lump sum announced today, the Carer's Allowance reach has also been expanded by increasing the weekly earnings disregards by €100 for a single person and €150 for a couple. From June 2024, the income disregard for the scheme will be €450 per week for a single person and €900 for a couple.

As well as that, carers can now register their caring periods on MyWelfare.ie. The new Long Term Carers Contributions scheme makes it easier for those who have cared for over 20 years for an incapacitated person to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) when they reach pension age.

Under this scheme, any period in which a carer is registered as providing care to a person who has a disability that requires full-time care and attention, can be included in their pay-related social insurance (PRSI) record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes. A minimum of 20 years Long-Term Carers contributions are required.

Meanwhile the Department of Further and Higher Education has announced the roll-out of €1.15 million in funding to support Care leavers. The funding, which is being provided through the Dormant Accounts Fund, will be used to pay student accommodation costs for young people in the care of the State.

This will also be extended to members of the Traveller and Roma communities. There is no official data on the number of care leavers accessing higher education, however the Government has said "they are a priority group".

In addition, the Department has secured funding for an Apprenticeship bursary scheme for this cohort also. This will ensure a student in care who wishes to choose an apprenticeship will have access to financial supports. The bursary will be €3,000 each.

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