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Social welfare Ireland: Full list of people eligible for Christmas bonus and when it's paid

The Christmas bonus is set to be paid out in December to thousands of people - here's everything you need to know about who qualifies, when it is and how much is paid

by · RSVP Live

The date has been confirmed for the upcoming Christmas bonus.

The bonus was confirmed to return this year in Budget 2025 as the government made the announcement earlier this month.

It is set to be paid during the week of the 2nd of December.

Read more:Social welfare Ireland: Exact dates for one-off lump sums, October double payment & Christmas Bonus

Read more:Social welfare Ireland: Thousands set to receive October bonus early due to schedule change

Here's everything you need to know about the Christmas bonus.

Who gets it?

  • Back to Education Allowance - people coming from jobseeker's payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use your time on your jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify.
  • Back to Work Enterprise Allowance - people coming from jobseeker's payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use time on jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify
  • Back to Work Family Dividend
  • Blind Pension
  • Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit (including half-rate Carer's Allowance)
  • Community Employment
  • Deserted Wife's Allowance and Deserted Wife's Benefit
  • Daily Expenses Allowance for 12 months or more
  • Disability Allowance
  • Disablement Benefit
  • Domiciliary Care Allowance
  • Farm Assist
  • Guardian's Payment (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
  • Illness Benefit for 12 months or more
  • Invalidity Pension
  • Job Initiative Scheme
  • Jobseeker's Allowance for 12 months (312 days or more)
  • Jobseeker's Transitional payment
  • Magdalene Commission Scheme
  • Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
  • One-Parent Family Payment
  • Partial Capacity Benefit
  • Rural Social Scheme
  • State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory)
  • Supplementary Welfare Allowance for 12 months (364 days or more)
  • Tús
  • Widow, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
  • Work Placement Experience Programme (if your primary payment is a qualifying social welfare payment)
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How much is it?

In 2024, the Christmas Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly payment. The minimum Bonus amount that will be paid is €20.

If an Increase for a Qualified Adult is paid directly to your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, the Christmas Bonus is also paid directly to them.

If you are getting 2 eligible social welfare payments (for example, a One-Parent Family Payment and the Domiciliary Care Allowance or a half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well as your primary payment) you will get the Christmas Bonus for both payments.

For Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), which is paid monthly, the bonus is 100% of the weekly DCA rate. The DCA portion of the bonus is calculated independently of other payments.

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