Three groups of Social Welfare recipients will not get October 'double payment'

As the social welfare schemes set out in Budget 2025 begin to take effect, three groups of social welfare recipients have been removed from the first double payment, later this month.

It was revealed in Budget 2025 that some social welfare schemes will receive a double week's payment this month.

READ MORE: Payment dates for cost-of-living supports to be announced

Those that are included are those in receipt of the same social welfare payments that qualify for the Christmas Bonus.

However, just like previous years, those in receipt of Fuel Allowance, the Working Family Payment and Maternity Benefit are excluded from the October double payment and the Christmas bonus.

However, additional payments will be made to those in receipt of such benefits, as outlined below.

* €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households getting Fuel Allowance

* €200 cost of living lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase

* €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting the Working Family Payment to be paid in November 2024

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection said: "An October Cost of Living Bonus will be paid this year to over 1.38 million people including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents. The Bonus will be paid in the week commencing October 28, 2024."

The statement adds: "The October Bonus will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas Bonus in December. It provides a 100% increase in the weekly rate of payment for eligible recipients. 

"The Living Alone Increase, the Island Allowance and the Over-80 Increase are not primary weekly payments, rather they are increases to weekly payments for those that are eligible to receive them.

For those that do receive these increases, the increase will be doubled along with their primary payment."