Approximately 1.4 million people will this week receive the autumn double social protection payment to help ease the pressures of the cost of living.

This double payment will be the first of eight lump sum payments paid out between now and Christmas.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has said these payments are meant to target people who are most seriously impacted by the cost of living crisis.

Announced as part of the largest social protection budget in the history of the State, these lump sums are designed to assist pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, and families.

Around thirty groups of people will receive this week’s double payment, costing the state approximately €316 million.

Pensioners are the largest group to benefit from this payment, with almost 590,000 receiving the double payment. 182,000 jobseekers will also receive it.

One-parent families, guardians, and those who are part of the rural social scheme will also be in receipt of the Autumn payment.

These cost of living payments are “unprecedented” says Minister Humphreys, claiming it will help 1.5 million households between now and Christmas.

Following this week’s double payment, those in receipt of fuel allowance will receive a €400 lump sum in November.

Also, next month, a €200 payment will be given to those receiving the living alone allowance.

A double payment of child benefit will also be paid out in November, as well as €500 for those who receive carer’s support grant. People in receipt of disability allowance will also get €500.

Over the next two and a half months, there are eight planned payments which will amount to a total cost of €1.2 billion.

Announced in the cost of living budget, the fuel allowance scheme will be extended to an additional 81,000 households.

Welfare increases of €12 per week will also come into effect in January 2023, across the board.

Households were informed last week that they may have to wait until December to get the first of three €200 energy credits promised in the budget by the Government.

The credits have been rumoured to be applied to households in November/December Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath said, but no dates have been finalised.

Minister McGrath added that due to financial volatility internationally, the Government would keep the matter under review with a capacity for further intervention if needed.