This December will see the largest ever Christmas Bonus total being paid to Social Welfare recipients in the state.
Over 1.6 million people will be receiving payments totalling €390 million in the week beginning 7th December.
The Christmas Bonus will also be paid to 90% of recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) who have been receiving payments – continuously or otherwise – for at least 4 months (17 weeks) since March. It’s estimated that 311,270 people who have been on the PUP will receive the Christmas Bonus, totally over €93 million.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD has urged people to spend their bonus locally in order to support small businesses.
People in receipt of the following payments will receive the Bonus:
- State Pensions and Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner’s Pensions
- Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Partial Capacity Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Guardian’s payments
- One-Parent Family Payment, Long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Transition Payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit and Allowance and Farm Assist
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, TÚS, Gateway and Job Initiative, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Daily Expenses Allowance, Magdalene Commission Scheme
- On an exceptional basis this year, recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and equivalent recipients of Jobseeker’s Payments who have been on these payments for four months or more.
