SOCIAL WELFARE: All weekly increases announced in the Budget last month are effective from January. These include the rates for pensioners aged 66 or over and people on retirement or invalidity pension, aged 65 or over. The weekly increase of ¤12.71 (£10) applies to full-rate pensions and there are proportionate increases for contributory pensioners on reduced rates.

An increase of €12.14 (£9.56) in the rate of short-term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance will bring them into line with other short-term benefit rates. There is also a special increase of €15.29 (£12.04) in the rate of widow(er)'s pension and deserted wife's benefit for those aged 66 and over.

The majority of those getting short-term benefit payments will receive their increase from the beginning of the month. Those on long-term weekly social welfare payments will be paid their increases in February, with the backdated amount in one payment. These include people getting widow/widower's, one-parent family and invalidity payments.

Some 393,000 old-age and retirement pensioners will receive a special single order payment in mid-February. It will include the increase from January and a seven-week advance payment of the increase to bring them up to the date on which their new order books arrive.

The increases in child benefit are effective from April. Child benefit will increase by €31.80 (£25.04) per month for first and second children and by €38.10 (£30.01) for third and subsequent children. This brings the new monthly rates to €117.60 and €147.30 respectively.