October Once-Off Payment: Full List of Qualifying Social Welfare Schemes and Groups Excluded
Ardee News and Sport — October Once-Off Payment
Thousands of social welfare recipients are expected to receive a once-off bonus payment this October, ahead of Budget 2025. This bonus payment is one of two lump sum payments being considered as part of the budget, with the second expected to be the annual Christmas Bonus in December. The October payment will be officially announced on Tuesday, October 1.
Who Qualifies for the October Bonus?
If you’re currently receiving any of the following social welfare payments, you are expected to qualify for the October once-off payment, based on previous years:
• Back to Education Allowance – Must be in receipt for at least 12 months if transitioning from Jobseeker’s payments.
• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance – Also requires 12 months on the scheme after Jobseeker’s payments.
• Back to Work Family Dividend
• Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds
• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit, including half-rate Carer’s Allowance.
• Community Employment
• Deserted Wife’s Allowance and Deserted Wife’s Benefit
• Daily Expenses Allowance – Previously known as Direct Provision Allowance, must be in receipt for 12 months.
• Disability Allowance
• Disablement Benefit
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Farm Assist
• Guardian’s Payment (Contributory and Non-Contributory)
• Illness Benefit – Must be in receipt for 12 months or more.
• Invalidity Pension
• Job Initiative Scheme
• Jobseeker’s Allowance – Must be in receipt for 12 months (312 days or more).
• Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
• Magdalene Commission Scheme
• Death Benefit Scheme (under Occupational Injuries Scheme)
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Partial Capacity Benefit
• Rural Social Scheme
• State Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory)
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance – Must be in receipt for 12 months (312 days or more).
• Tús
• Widow, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory)
• Work Placement Experience Programme
Additionally, those receiving the Living Alone Increase, the Island Allowance, and the Over-80 Increase are also expected to be included in the bonus payment.
Who Won’t Receive the Once-Off Payment?
The major group that could be excluded from receiving the double week are those in receipt of Fuel Allowance, as this was the case during the Christmas bonus and January’s bonus week.
It comes as the Fuel Allowance scheme is being paid out from this week, with hundreds and thousands of households set to benefit.
The payment is paid weekly and adds up to €924, or recipients can opt to get it paid in two lump sums.
While the first weekly instalment is being paid from today, applications are still open for people to avail of the scheme.
Stay tuned for the official announcement on October 1 for full details on eligibility and payment dates.