Social welfare Ireland: New payment dates for Christmas and New Year’s confirmed after switch-up
by Shauna Bannon Ward · RSVP LiveNew payment dates for social welfare schemes at Christmas and New Year’s have been confirmed after a schedule switch-up.
The government explained that with both of the holidays landing on a Wednesday in December and January there will be a slight alteration to when people can expect to get their money.
Two weeks worth of payment will be impacted, while another will go ahead as normal.
Read more: Social welfare Ireland: One major group won't be receiving December’s cost of living double payment
The Department of Social Protection said: “If you receive a weekly social welfare payment, you will get your payment as usual during the week commencing Monday 16 December, 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.”
Those due to be paid on 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 December 2024 will not be affected by any changes.
Those that are expected to receive their payments on 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 December 2024 will now be paid on the week beginning 16 December.
While recipients of social welfare payments that were due to be issued on 1 January 2025 will now be paid on 31 December 2024.
The Department continued: “If you are claiming on a casual basis: where dockets have been provided in advance, two payments covering the signing weeks ending 17 and 24 December (Jobseeker’s Allowance), or 18 and 25 December (Jobseeker’s Benefit) will be paid into accounts on 20 December.
“Normal payment arrangements for week ending 31 December and 1 January will resume on Tuesday, 7 January 2025.
“Illness Benefit customers: please continue to send in your ‘Certificate of Incapacity for Work’ over the Christmas and New Year period.”
They added 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.
“In order to ensure you receive your payments on time this month, please follow the guidelines on MyWelfare.ie on how to submit your work patterns correctly,” they added.
All department offices, including Intreo Centres and Branch Offices, will be closed on 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.