Almost 3,700 Farm Assist Recipients To Receive Bonus Payment

The Department of Social Protection has confirmed that almost 3,700 Farm Assist recipients will receive the October cost of living bonus payment this week.

It marks the first of 10 of cost of living bonuses and lump sums due to be rolled out in the coming weeks as part of Budget 2025.

The October bonus, worth a total of €350 million, is due to be paid to 1.4 million people this week, including pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.

The department also confirmed to Agriland that the €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments from January 2025 includes Farm Assist.

Almost 3,700 Farm Assist recipients to receive bonus payment

“There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate,” a spokesperson said.

From January, the weekly rate for a child dependent will increase by €4 from €46 to €50, for children under 12 years of age, and by €8 from €54 to €62 for children aged 12 years and over 

People who are eligible for Farm Assist will also receive the Christmas bonus which will be paid to long-term welfare recipients in December.

Farm Assist

According to the department, Farm Assist is a means-tested payment for low-income farmers.

To qualify for Farm Assist, you must be considered a farmer, if you farm land that you own or lease and that you use for the purpose of husbandry.

Husbandry means working the land with the aim of taking produce from the land.

You must pass a means test, which means the Department of Social Protection examines all your sources of income and to qualify, your income must be below a certain amount.

You must also be farming in Ireland and be aged between 18 and 66.

Data provided by the department shows that as of the end of September 2024, there were 3,658 recipients of Farm Assist.

Donegal was the county with the highest number of recipients at 814, followed by Mayo with 514 and Galway on 347.

The following table provides a county-by-county breakdown of Farm Assist recipients at the end of last month:

County Number of Farm Assist recipients
Carlow 35
Cavan 121
Clare 162
Cork 243
Donegal 814
Dublin 3
Galway 347
Kerry 216
Kildare 16
Kilkenny 49
Laois 26
Leitrim 161
Limerick 73
Longford 57
Louth 27
Mayo 521
Meath 29
Monaghan 186
Offaly 33
Roscommon 105
Sligo 166
Tipperary 84
Waterford 32
Westmeath 38
Wexford 76
Wicklow 38
Total 3,658

Farm Assist recipients as of September 2024. Source: Department of Social Protection

Meanwhile, Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection Joe O’Brien has confirmed that participants in the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) will see an increase to their weekly payment by €12 from January 1 next.

This will result in the weekly minimum payment on RSS rising to €271.50.

The RSS was established in 2004 as an income support initiative to provide part-time employment in community and voluntary organisations for farmers in receipt of certain social welfare payments who were underemployed in their primary occupations.

At the end of September, there were 2,699 participants and 126 supervisors on the scheme nationwide.

The minister noted that a budget of €52 million is available for the RSS this year.

Participants on RSS are contracted to work 19.5 hours per week and their rates of pay are based on their underlying social welfare payments plus an additional €27.50 per week.

Participants may also receive increases in respect of qualified adult and child dependants.

Rural Social Scheme

A recently launched report on a review of the RSS includes 19 recommendations to address the sustainability of the scheme to continue providing income support, social inclusion and service delivery in rural communities.

The report noted that declining participation since 2019 was causing a concern that rural communities may be left without key community services.

Minister O’Brien said that work is underway in his department on six of the recommendations, focusing initially on eligibility and contracts.

“Work is well advanced on the proposed pilot scheme targeted at customers who are over 50 years of age, on a social welfare payment and living in a rural area.

“This rural dweller pilot will see 250 places ring-fenced from within the overall existing number of places on RSS.

“Changes to facilitate both members of a couple engaged in farming or fishing in accessing RSS are also being worked on.

“This will see two people being able to use the same herd number or fishing licence simultaneously,” he said.

The minister said that arrangements are also being made to issue three-year contracts to participants, while the contract renewal process will be adjusted to be undertaken in three-year intervals.

“Participants who are over 60 years of age will be permitted to remain on RSS until they reach 66 without the requirement to undergo any further means test or renewal process.

“Promotional activity to highlight the important work on the scheme is also to be undertaken,” Minister O’Brien said.

(Source – Agriland – Aisling O Brien – 30/10/2024)

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