Louise O'Reilly
Question:619. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first and full year cost of increasing the threshold of WFP by 30%. [16174/26]
View answerTuesday, 3 March 2026
Questions (619)
Written answers
The full year cost of increasing the Working Family Payment income thresholds is difficult to estimate with accuracy given the dynamics of the labour market and wage fluctuations. It is challenging to forecast the number of new claimants who would avail of the payment as a result of a 30% increase to the thresholds as proposed.
It is also difficult to provide a costing for a 30% increase to each Working Family Payment threshold, as this would require costing a different threshold increase for each household size. However, assuming the same threshold increase for all family sizes, in line with increases in recent budgets, a 30% increase to the €765 threshold would equate to a €229.50 increase to the Working Family Payment thresholds. The estimated cost of such an increase across all family sizes is €369m per year.
It should be noted, the estimate is based on the number of recipients at the end of December 2025 only, the latest figures available, which would not include any possible increase in recipient numbers following measures introduced as part of Budget 2026.
Budget 2026 included two Working Family Payment measures: to increase the thresholds for all family sizes by €60 per week from January 2026; and to provide the Fuel Allowance from March 2026 (backdated to January) to recipients of the payment.