When I used the term “core social welfare payments” recently, I was referring to those primary weekly payments that are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. Such payments and the relevant weekly maximum rates of payment are outlined in the table below. The Department pays out a range of other payments on a weekly, monthly or less frequent basis. As these are paid, where appropriate, in addition to the income support payments detailed in the table, they are considered non-primary in nature.
Table: 2012 Weekly payment rates
Scheme
|
Weekly Rate
€
|
Pensioner Weekly Rates of Payment
|
|
Carer’s Allowance
|
239.00
|
Death Benefit Pension
|
234.70
|
State Pension (Contributory)/State Pension (Transition)/Invalidity Pension/Widow(er's), Surviving Civil Partner (Contributory) Pension/Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
230.30
|
State Pension (Non Contributory)
|
219.00
|
Incapacity Supplement
|
204.30
|
|
|
Working Age Weekly Rates of Payment
|
|
Death Benefit Pension
|
218.50
|
Maternity and Adoptive Benefit – Minimum Rate
|
217.80
|
Carer's Benefit /Constant Attendance Allowance
|
205.00
|
Carer’s Allowance
|
204.00
|
Invalidity Pension/Widow/er's/Surviving Civil Partner (Contributory) Pension/Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
193.50
|
Jobseeker's Benefit/Illness Benefit/Incapacity Supplement/
Health and Safety Benefit/Injury Benefit/Jobseeker's Allowance/
Pre-Retirement Allowance/Back To Education Allowance/
Back To Work Allowance/Widow(er's), Surviving Civil Partner (Non Contributory) Pension/Deserted Wife's Allowance/Disability Allowance/Blind Pension/Farm Assist/
One Parent Family Payment
|
188.00
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
186.00
|
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory and Non Contributory)
|
161.00
|