More than 600,000 people will be receiving a lump sum Social Welfare payment
this week costing the State €83 million.
Among those receiving the backdated sum between today and Friday are pensioners, carers in the home, single parents and deserted wives.
Increases announced in the Budget last December took effect from January but because of what the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs say were logistical difficulties, backdated amounts reflecting the increases are only now being paid.
The increase in child benefit, which is paid monthly, will be paid in April, which the Department points out, is two months earlier than last year. 275,00 recipients of temporary payments like unemployment payments and disability benefit received the increases last month and the Department describe the staggering of the increases as "purely administrative".
Payments such as pensions are made through a book of payable orders. The Department say it would not have been logistically possible to distribute the two million books containing 40 million vouchers by the start of January. The majority of increases take effect from today.
330,000 pensioners will be receiving an amount reflecting a 13-week differential comprising the six weeks increase due from the first week in January and a seven week advance payment of their increase up to April when they will receive their renewal books.
Over 273,000 people receiving carer's allowance, one parent family payment, invalidity pension, widow's and widower's pensions will this week receive their book containing the new allowances and a six-week backdated amount.
The Minster for Social Community and Family Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern said: "Taking account of inflation, there has been a significant increase in social welfare spending in real terms."
The Department says queries should be directed to: 01 704 3000.