Social Welfare Ireland: Major payment date shake-up on the cards due to Christmas period
by Ruairi Scott Byrne · Irish MirrorThere are just a couple of weeks to go until Christmas and those receiving social welfare are being reminded of some changes to the payment dates over the festive period.
With Christmas rapidly approaching, social welfare recipients will see changes to their payment schedules due to the closure of banks and post offices during the festive season.
Recipients have been told to take note of the changes which includes some receiving their payments early.
READ MORE: €462 social welfare payment due in weeks as thousands more eligible to claim
Details of all payment arrangements for the Christmas period are outlined below.
If you receive a weekly social welfare payment, you will get your payment as usual during the week commencing Monday, December 16, and an advanced payment for the following week. This applies to payments made at post offices, by cheque or directly into your financial institution account.
That means there will be no change for payments due on December 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. However, payments due on December 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 will instead be made during the week beginning December 16.
All department offices, including Intreo Centres and Branch Offices, will be closed on December 25 and 26 and January 1 2025.
Payments due on January 1, 2025 will be made on December 31, 2024. Part-time, casual and short-time workers will also be affected by the change in payment dates over the Christmas and New Year period.
And the Government confirmed that the change in social welfare payment dates will also affect part-time, casual or short-time workers over the Christmas and New Year period.
If you are on a jobseeker’s casual or part-time payment, you need to provide dockets in advance as advised to ensure your payment continues over the Christmas period.
When the Department of Social Protection receive the dockets, your payment will issue as follows:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance will get two payments covering the signing weeks ending December 17 and 24 on Friday, December 20
- Jobseeker’s Benefit will get two payments covering the signing weeks ending December 18 and 25 on Friday, December 20
- Normal payment arrangements for signing week ending December 31 and January 1 will resume on Tuesday, January 7 2025
Those receiving income support from the Department of Social Protection who plan on leaving the State over the Christmas period should let the department know of their absence in advance of travel. you can do this by visiting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office.
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