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Sunday 1 October 2023 Dublin: 17°C

# Department of Social Protection

This year
2023
Taoiseach confirms that the state pension will increase in the next Budget
The issue arose in the Dáil after TD Joan Collins asked if the government were going to uphold the roadmap for pensions reform from 2018.
Ireland's level of unemployment has reached its lowest point in more than 20 years
The 4% unemployment barrier was broken in April, which the Department said is ‘commonly taken as the full level of employment’.
Births and deaths set to be registered online for the first time
As part of the Bill, the Register of Stillbirths will also be expanded.
€200 cost-of-living payment to be given to 1.3 million people this week
The payment was part of a cost-of-living supports package announced in February.
Last year
2022
Government woos 1,200 Spaniards for 'hard-to-fill' jobs but housing problems glossed over
Hostels have become a common fallback option for workers who can’t find long-term housing.
Fostering allowance becoming insufficient amid cost-of-living crisis, say carers
The allowance paid to foster parents has not increased since 2009.
State parental leave expanded to seven weeks
New parents can now take up to seven weeks leave as part of measures introduced by the Departments of Children and Social Protection.
Mother receives letter seeking repayment of disability allowance claimed after her son died
Tracy McGinnis said that she was “shocked and appalled” at the letter.
Alleged excessive data gathering by Department of Social Protection being examined
Noteworthy investigation reveals the Department had a database of individual free travel journeys until 2020.
The Data Protection Commission is looking at use of free travel pass data, writes Maria Delaney
Noteworthy investigation reveals the Department had a database of free travel journeys until 2020
We also find Leap card system usage records, including journey data, are being retained for over a year
The government's launched a plan to auto-enrol workers for pensions - here's how it will work
The auto-enrolment pension scheme is set to come into effect in early 2024.
'Insanity': Criticism as unemployment benefit to be paid at post offices rather than online
It was announced last month that people receiving the payment would no longer have it paid directly into their bank account.
One man said he now has to drive over 55km to a post office in order to collect the payment, which brings his fuel cost to between €45 - €50 a week.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said that the return to post offices would help to support the network and tackle welfare fraud.
A Social Democrats TD said the idea that people in receipt of social welfare are going to defraud the State "has been debunked on several occasions".
Extra resources promised to clear backlog of nearly 5,000 PPS number applications
One man waiting nearly two months for his PPSN said the wait had left him financial difficulty.
All time
Top Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates cut by €50 from today
The process of moving some PUP recipients to jobseeker’s payments has been deferred until late October.
First cuts to Pandemic Unemployment Payment rates take effect from today
Students who have been availing of the scheme will receive their final payments today.
Government spent €30.6 billion on social welfare payments in 2020, up 46% from 2019
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys described the increase as “extraordinary”.
Number of people receiving PUP dips below 200,000 for the first time
The overall bill for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment now stands at over €8.3 billion.
Returning workers face being overtaxed unless they cancel their Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Thousands of hospitality workers are expected to return to work over the coming weeks.
Child benefit instalment unpaid for older teenagers due to delay with forms
Several families who expected to be given the payment this week have not received it.
Today is the last day people can sign up for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment
All recipients of the payment have to confirm their continued eligibility by 20 July.
People reminded to hang up scam calls and not engage as reports continue
Gardaí and the Department of Social Protection have issued warnings about scam calls.
Warnings reissued as scam calls continue
People are asked not to engage with these callers and to hang up and block the number if possible.
School meals programme to be extended this summer due to impact of Covid-19 pandemic
The funding is normally not available during the summer.
Number of people receiving PUP dips below 300,000 for the first time this year
This is the lowest number of people in receipt of the PUP since December.
Department of Social Protection warns of phone scam using what appears to be its helpline number
The department does not contact members of the public using the number.
'Sophisticated' scam involves people receiving phone calls from bogus department official
The Department of Social Protection never requests bank account details from its customers by phone or SMS.
Second man arrested in relation to Pandemic Unemployment Payment fraud scheme
Personal data was collected through a phishing email and used to make applications for the pandemic unemployment payment.
PUP claimants reach 335,600 people as ministers promise payments won't change during Level 5
The scheme has cost the State over €5 billion since last March.
More than 350,000 people still in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Over €4.3 billion has been issued in total since the PUP was introduced earlier this year.
Number receiving Covid-19 unemployment payment rises by over 15,000
244,153 people are now in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
Department of Social Protection and An Post issue warnings over scam text messages
Health officials are warning anyone who thinks they’ve been affected to contact their bank.
What's in it for me? — Everything you need to know about the government's July stimulus package
There were few surprises in today’s announcement.
Minister signals change to pandemic unemployment payment on the way
Some 95,800 people are now receiving the reduced payment of €203 per week.
Debunked: No, the government hasn't issued a €350 payment to everyone in the country
Members of the public have been warned about a text scam in recent days.
Tourism, food and construction worst-hit by Covid-19 job losses
Social protection minister Regina Doherty said she would hope construction workers would be returning to work soon.
Over half a million people receive Covid-19 unemployment payment this week, as IMF releases dire economic forecast
Over 42,000 employers have registered for the temporary wage subsidy scheme, according to the government.
Department 'inadvertently' emailed 1,700 people telling them their Covid-19 payment was to be stopped
The department said it has now emailed all individuals affected to advise them of the error and reassure them their payment will continue.
Recipients of Covid-19 illness benefit who were underpaid will get arrears this week
The department said the benefit was paid at the original rate “pending the system being built to apply the increased rate”.
Coronavirus: People on social welfare income support now tops 710,000
A total of 507,000 were issued with a Pandemic Unemployment Payment last Friday.
Changes to Covid-19 payment could come as soon as next week, says minister
The government is working on a number of options regarding the payment, Regina Doherty said.
Christmas bonus will be paid out to 1.2 million social welfare recipients at start of December
The cost of the Christmas bonus this year will be €279.4 million.