How much? Social Welfare Christmas Bonus to be paid this week
This year’s social welfare Chirstmas bonus will be paid to almost 1.2 million recipients this week.
Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform Pascal Donohue and Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar signed the Christmas bonus order last week, with payments beginning today and running through until Friday.
This year’s bonus payment will be 85 per cent of the regular amount paid to a recipient, which works out at €160 if the person’s normal payment is €188.
Those who receive the state pension amount of €222, will receive €188.70, while a couple with two children receiving a joint jobseekers payment of €372.40 will be getting €316.50.
A full list of those who qualify for the social welfare Christmas bonus can be found here.
Meanwhile, the dates payments will be made over the festive period have also been released.
The Department of Social Protection’s offices will be closed on Monday 26 December 2016, Tuesday 27 December 2016 and Monday 2 January 2017.
Post Offices will be closed on Monday 26 December 2016, Tuesday 27 December 2016, Wednesday 28 December 2016 and Monday 2 January 2017.
Signed Christmas bonus order with @campaignforleo this evening. Payment beginning next week. pic.twitter.com/2vQPGJNSmc
— Paschal Donohoe (@Paschald) November 23, 2016
Weekly Payments
All customers paid weekly will receive their normal payment(s) and an advance payment during the week beginning Monday 19 December 2016.
The advance payment will be the payment(s) due in the week beginning Monday 26 December 2016. Payments will be available on your normal collection day.
There will be no regular weekly payments during the week beginning Monday 26 December 2016.
SWA Supplements paid Calendar Monthly
SWA Supplements paid Calendar Monthly, due for collection from Monday 26 December 2016, may be collected as follows:
Due Dates: Monday 26 December, Tuesday 27 December, Wednesday 28 December – Available on: Friday 23 December
Due Date: Thursday 29 December – Available on: Thursday 29 December
Due Date: Friday 30 December – Available on: Friday 30 December
SWA Supplements paid Calendar Monthly should be collected from the post office before close of business on Tuesday 3 January 2017.
Payments due on Monday 2 January 2017 will be available for collection from Friday 30 December 2016.
Normal payment dates will resume from Tuesday 3 January 2017.
Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) collected from An Post
Banks will be closed on Monday 26 December 2016, Tuesday 27 December 2016, Wednesday 28 December 2016 and Monday 2 January 2017.
Weekly Payments
Customers paid weekly will receive their normal payment(s) and an advance payment during the week beginning Monday 19 December 2016.
The advance payment will be the payment(s) due in the week beginning Monday 26 December 2016.
See below for the payment arrangements for Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit and Casual Jobseeker payments.
Payments due on Monday 2 January 2017 will be credited to accounts on Friday 30 December 2016.
Normal payment dates will resume from Tuesday 3 January 2017.
Maternity Benefit, Paternity and Health and Safety Benefit
There are no double week payments issued for these schemes.
Payments due on Monday 19 December 2016 will be credited to accounts on Monday 19 December 2016.
Payments due on Monday 26 December 2016 will be credited to accounts on Friday 23 December 2016.
Payments due on Monday 2 January 2017 will be credited to accounts on Friday 30 December 2016.
Normal payment dates will resume on Monday 9th January 2017.
Casual Jobseekers (Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance)
Customers who claim Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance on a casual basis will be paid as follows:
Payments due on Tuesday 20 December 2016 will be credited to accounts on Monday 19th December 2016.
Payments due on Tuesday 27 December 2016 and Tuesday 3 January 2017 will be credited to accounts on Friday 23 December 2016.
Normal payment dates will resume on Tuesday 10 January 2017
SWA Supplements paid Calendar Monthly
SWA Supplements paid Calendar Monthly, due for payment from Monday 26 December 2016, will be credited to accounts as follows:
| Due Date: | Credited on: |
| Monday 26 December | Friday 23 December |
| Tuesday 27 December | Friday 23 December |
| Wednesday 28 December | Friday 23 December |
| Thursday 29 December | Thursday 29 December |
| Friday 30 December | Friday 30 December |
Foreign EFT Payments
Foreign payments due during the week beginning 19 December 2016 will be paid during the week beginning 12 December 2016.
