Social Welfare Bill 2020

Public bill · Government · Presented

Raises several social welfare payments and makes a number of short-term changes announced in Budget 2021, including a €150 increase in the carer’s support grant, higher rates for working family payment and supports for people living alone or caring for children, and a bigger bereavement grant for widows, widowers and surviving civil partners. It also keeps the State pension age at 66 for now, reduces the waiting period for illness and injury payments, removes the earnings limit for the one-parent family payment, and lets some people on pandemic unemployment payment keep it for up to six weeks after death for their surviving partner. These changes matter because they put extra money into households, carers and workers hit by illness, unemployment or bereavement.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend and extend the Social Welfare Acts; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 11 May 2021