Social welfare Ireland: Date for cost-of-living Christmas bonus and who will get it

One of the final cost-of-living bonuses is set to be paid within days.

The government confirmed in October that the annual Christmas Bonus for social welfare recipients would be going ahead as usual.

The Christmas Bonus is comprised of a double payment of your usual social welfare rate.

Read more:Cost of living Ireland: Full list of social welfare payments excluded from yearly €780 increase

Read more:Social welfare Ireland: One group to be paid the Christmas Bonus twice

It's being paid within days, and here's everything you need to know.

When will the Christmas Bonus be paid?

The Christmas Bonus will be paid the week starting December 2 to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment.

How much is the Christmas Bonus?

This year's bonus is 100% of the normal weekly payment. The minimum bonus amount that will be paid is €20.

How can I apply for the Christmas Bonus?

The bonus will be paid to those in receipt of several specific long-term social welfare payments.

The bonus is paid automatically with your usual weekly payment. If you have a qualifying payment, you will receive it and if you do not qualify then you will not. There is no way to apply for the Christmas Bonus.

What are the qualifying payments for the Christmas Bonus?

• 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
• Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds
• 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)