Christmas welfare bonus announced by Hanafin

The Christmas welfare bonus announced today will give the State's economy a boost of over €200 million, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin has said.

“The start of December sees some 1.3 million social welfare recipients get additional support from the Government with the payment of a Christmas bonus, equal to 100 per cent of their normal weekly payment,” said Ms Hanafin, announcing the bonus.

Some 900,000 recipients and their 400,000 dependents will benefit from this bonus to help with Christmas expenses, according to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Ms Hanafin said this was the ninth year that the full 100 per cent bonus was being paid and showed the Government, despite the difficult economic situation, wants to protect the most vulnerable in society.

The extra payment is being made to all those on long-term social welfare payments such as pensioners, lone parents, widows and widowers, Jobseeker's Allowance recipients and carers. It will be made with the regular weekly social welfare payment.

According the department, the Christmas bonus means, for those claiming the maximum rates, a couple with three children on long-term Jobseeker's Allowance will get €802.20, including a bonus of €401.10; a person getting the One Parent Family Payment with two dependent children will receive €491.60, including a bonus of €245.80; while a person getting the State Pension (Contributory) living alone will receive €462.00, including a bonus of €231.00.

From today those getting Jobseekers Allowance, Farm Assist, Back to Work, Back to Enterprise Allowance or Pre-Retirement Allowance will receive their bonus payment.

Other payment dates are December 3rd for Disability Allowance and December 4th for Carers’ Benefit; State Pension (Transition); Invalidity Pension; One Parent Family Payment; and Carers’ Allowance.

December 5th will see the payment for Disablement Pension; Death Benefit; State Pension (Contributory); Widow/ers (Contributory) Pension; Guardians Payment (Contributory); State Pension (Non-Contributory); Blind Pension; Widow/ers (Non-Contributory) Pension; Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory); One Parent Family in respect of a widow/er

Ms Hanafin urged people to heed the advice of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (Mabs) on managing finances over the Christmas period. The Mabs helpline is 1890 283 438 or www.mabs.ie.