The government has continued implementing further social measures announced in the 2026 Budget, with the majority aimed at increasing pensioners’ income through adjustments and enhanced benefits.

By the end of this week, payments will be issued to married pensioners paid at the single rate, widows, service pensioners, individuals born before 1962, and elderly couples residing together in care homes.

In total, more than 41,000 pensioners will benefit from the measures, receiving an additional €26 million on top of the increases already granted earlier this year.

The measure affects around 7,200 pensioners, most of them women, receiving the National Minimum Pension, Invalidity Pension, or the Minimum Two-Thirds Pension.

The increase comes in addition to the €10 weekly rise already introduced at the start of the year and varies according to the pension rate their spouses would have received. Around 7,000 widows are benefitting from the additional income, which this year amounts to approximately €2.5 million.

Another measure now in force affects elderly couples receiving care in residential homes, including San Vinċenz de Paul Residence. The deduction rates applied to their combined income have been revised. Previously, each individual had 60% of their income deducted; this has now been reduced to 50%. In cases where the deduction stood at 80%, it has now been lowered to 70% for each resident.