Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2022, I announced a €5 increase to all weekly social welfare payments, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment, at a cost of €375 million. The full €5 increase applies to young people in receipt of an age-related reduced rate of Jobseeker's Allowance.

As a result, from January 2022, the rate of payment for Jobseeker's Allowance recipients aged under 25 increased from €112.70 to €117.70 per week.

The estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of payment by an additional €40.15, from €117.70 to €157.85 per week, is €30 million. This includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults and those on an age reduced rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2022, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.

Any increase in the rate of payment for Jobseeker's Allowance for those aged under 25 would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.