1.4 million to receive Christmas bonus next week
The Department of Social Protection has said 1.4 million social welfare recipients will receive their Christmas bonus next week.
Pensioners, carers, people will disabilities, lone parents and those receiving long-term social welfare are among those who will get an additional 100% payment.
The qualifying period for those in receipt of an eligible Jobseekers payment has been reduced from 15 to 12 months.
Those who have received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a year or more will also qualify for the bonus.
In the case of those who have been moved from the PUP to Jobseekers payments, time spent on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will count towards the 12-month requirement.
The bonus, which will be paid into bank and Post Office accounts from Monday, was secured by Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys in Budget 2022.
The total cost of the payments will reach more than €313m.
“As a former Minister for Business, I know that our retail community are still feeling the impact of Covid-19,” said Ms Humphreys.
“This past two years has been so difficult for our small and medium businesses. I am therefore urging everyone to consider spending the Christmas Bonus locally this year.”
“If we keep our business in our towns, we will keep our towns in business.”
The largest group of recipients will be the 496,190 on the contributory state pension.
A total of 156,980 people who currently receive the Disability Allowance are set to get the bonus, while 124,030 people in receipt of the widow or widowers surviving civil partners pension and 121,406 recipients of the Jobseekers Allowance will also get it.
Article Source – 1.4 million to receive Christmas bonus next week – RTE – Will Goodbody
