The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, published the Social Welfare Bill. The Bill will give effect to the range of measures announced in Budget 2023. The increases in social welfare rates will apply from the first payment date in 2023, for example:

• Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Paternity Benefit and Parent’s Benefit will increase on 2 January 2023, and

• The State Pension Contributory will increase on 6 January 2023.