Pensioners are to get cash lump sums of up to €1,100 under a €2bn budget bonanza from the Department of Social Protection.
Those on core social welfare rates will see their weekly payments go up by €12 and two double payments before the new year under Budget 2023 plans.
A €21.bn euro social welfare package will see a €12 a week rise in core payments, bringing the dole to €220 a week and state pension to €265.
The usual Christmas double payment bonus will accompany a special Halloween bonus this year given at the end of October at a total cost of €600m.
There will be a major expansion of the fuel allowance criteria, bringing an estimated 60 to 80 thousand extra homes into the mix for the payment.
Those on the fuel allowance will also get a once off cash lump sum of €400 this winter, while those on the living alone allowance will get €200.
It means someone on the State Pension, Living Alone Allowance & Fuel Allowance would get cash payments of 1,100 euro by Christmas.
Carers, people with a disability, and those on the working family payment will all get a lump sum of €500.
While there will be a double payment of child benefit rates in December.
There will also be a €20 rise in the Domiciliary Care Allowance to 320 euro, as part of the budget measures announced by Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath later today.
