849. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of disability allowance and State pension (contributory) as of November 2024; and the total spent on each payment in November 2024. [46417/24]

For November 2024, there were 529,776 people receiving the State pension (contributory) and 167,551 people receiving Disability Allowance.

In November the Department spent €875m on the State Pension (Contributory) and €254.7m on Disability Allowance.

November expenditure figures for both schemes were higher than in comparable months, due to the payment of a number of cost-of-living lump sums, which were announced as part of Budget 2025. These included:

• a €400 lump sum payment to Disability Allowance recipients;

• a €200 lump sum payment to Living Alone Allowance recipients, expenditure on which is incurred on the recipient’s primary scheme;

• a €100 lump sum payment (per child) to recipients of the Child Support Payment, expenditure on which is incurred on the recipient’s primary scheme;

• and the October Bonus double payment, which was paid to Pensioners during the first week of November (note that Disability Allowance recipients received the October Bonus during the final week of October).