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You need a verified MyGovID account to apply online for the benefit payment for people aged 65 at mywelfare.ie.

The HSE has published a new application form (pdf) for the Nursing Home Support Scheme.

Deferred Leaving Certificate exams will run from Thursday, 29 June 2023 until Saturday, 15 July 2023.

Since 1 May 2023, the rate of carbon tax increased from €41.00 to €48.50 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted.

From 12 May 2023, you no longer need to show proof of vaccination if travelling to the USA.

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The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was commenced on 26 April 2023. You can read about:

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been extended to vacant properties built before 2007. You can now get the grant if you intend to rent out the property when they are refurbished. In addition, the grant available will increase by €20,000 in the next few weeks.

Small and micro business employers can now get financial and training supports through One More Job if they employ one or more apprentices in 2023.

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The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act will be fully implemented on 26 April 2023. From this date, new decision support arrangements will be available. No new Wards of Court will be created after this date, and everyone who is currently a Ward of Court will have their capacity assessed and brought under the new legal framework within 3 years.  The Decision Support Service will oversee the new system.

Public in-patient and day service fees were abolished on 17 April 2023. This means that the daily charge for staying in hospital for public patients no longer applies from this date.

Facemasks are no longer required in healthcare settings. However, you may be recommended to wear one depending on the specific situation or if you are at higher risk from infection.  

A new Sectoral Employment Order setting minimum pay and pension contribution rates for workers in the construction sector will commence on 18 September 2023. 

The disregard from the social welfare means test of €14,000 per year for renting out a room in your own home has been extended until 17 March 2025. 

Reduced toll charges for electric vehicles has been extended to 31 December 2023.

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Public in-patient and day service hospital fees were abolished on 17 April 2023. This means that the daily charge for staying in hospital for public patients no longer applies from this date.

All primary school pupils will qualify for free schoolbooks from the start of the 2023/24 school year. Schoolbooks must be returned by the end of the school year.

From September 2023, the Hot School Meals Programme will be extended to all DEIS primary schools. In 2024, the programme will be introduced in phases to remaining primary schools.

An extra payment of €200 will be paid to anyone who gets a social welfare payment that qualifies for the Christmas Bonus or the Working Family Payment in the week starting 24 April 2023.

The Citizens’ Assembly on drug use has held its first meeting.

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Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme

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You can now apply for an Additional Needs Payment online.

You can no longer book a COVID-19 PCR test or order an antigen test through the HSE.

If you are the qualifying adult on your partner’s Jobseeker’s Allowance or Community Employment Payment, you will be able to qualify to take part in the CE Scheme in your own right under changes announced last week.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 has been passed by the Oireachtas. The President will now consider the Bill before signing it into law. Most of the new rules will not apply immediately. The Bill includes:

  • 5 days paid leave for victims of domestic violence
  • 5 days unpaid medical leave for carers and parents of children under 12
  • The right to request flexible working hours for parents and carers, and remote working for everyone
  • The extension of breastfeeding breaks to cover the first 2 years
  • The right to take maternity leave for transgender men

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The winter eviction ban ends on 31 March 2023. Tenants whose tenancy termination date was postponed because of the eviction ban will have a new termination date between 1 April 2023 and 18 June 2023. A tenant’s new termination date depends on how long they have been renting and their initial termination date. New measures have been announced to help people whose tenancies will end.

Measures to help people who will be evicted when the winter eviction ban ends have been announced. The measures are aimed at tenants who are being evicted because their private landlord is selling their rental property.

The closing date for applications for the School Transport Scheme 2023-2024 is Friday, 28 April 2023. Payment for tickets or medical card details must be submitted between 3 April 2023 and 9 June 2023. The fee for a primary school child is €50 and for a post-primary school child is €75. The maximum fee for a family is €125.

On Thursday 13 April 2023, the Student Grant 2023-2024 will open for new applications. If you are already getting the Student Grant, renewal applications for 2023-2024 opened on 9 March 2023. 

The maximum grant for an electric vehicle will decrease from €5000 to €3500 from 1 July 2023.

From 1 May 2023, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant will be extended to properties built before 2007 and to homeowners who plan to rent out their property.

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Coimisiún na Meán has been established as the new media regulator for online safety, television broadcasting and video on-demand services.

If you have worked in the UK and have gaps in your National Insurance record, you can pay voluntary contributions to help you qualify for the UK state pension. You have until 31 July 2023 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between 2006 and 2016. After this date, you will only be able to pay contributions to cover the previous 6 years.

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The schedule for the Leaving Certificate 2023 has been published by the Department of Education. 

Renewals for the Student Grant Scheme in 2023-2024 are now open.  

Applications for the Primary school transport scheme are open and will close on 28 April 2023.  

The threshold for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme has changed from 50% to 30%. 

If you are a driver of a small public service vehicle (SPSV), you may be able to get a grant to buy a new electric vehicle. 

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Your rights when you travel by train  

Your rights when you travel by bus or coach 

Local Authority Home Loan  

Summer education programme  

Managing your money when you return to Ireland  

Rent tax credit 

Help to buy scheme  

Contract of employment 

Brexit and you 

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The Benefits and Taxes 2023 wallchart is now available

This large-format quick-reference wallchart summarises rates of payment in 2023 for social welfare payments and taxes.

It includes social welfare payments for jobseekers, carers and older people along with rates for child and family payments such as Child Benefit, Working Family Payment and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. It gives income limits for the medical card and GP visit card and financial information on tax bands, tax reliefs and tax credits including the Rent Tax Credit.

It is also available in a booklet format.

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New supports to help with the cost of living were announced on 21 February 2023:

The pause on disconnections for gas and electricity customers is extended to the end of March 2023.

From 15 March 2023, Coimisiún na Meán (or CnM or the Media Commission) will be the media regulator for online safety, television broadcasting and video on-demand services.

The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act will be fully implemented on 26 April 2023. From this date, new decision support arrangements will be available. No new Wards of Court will be created after this date, and everyone who is currently a Ward of Court will have their capacity assessed and brought under the new legal framework within 3 years.  The Decision Support Service will oversee the new system.

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