If you get social welfare payments, you could be entitled to some extra cash this Christmas. Here’s all you need to know about the social welfare Christmas bonus.
It’s an extra payment made in time for Christmas for anyone getting a long term social welfare benefit.
The money is to help towards some of the additional costs you’re faced with over the festive season.
The 2020 Christmas bonus will be paid to everyone who qualifies, in the week commencing 7 December.
This is decided in October each year, when the Budget’s announced. It can be part or all of your usual weekly welfare payment.
This year it’s 100% of your normal weekly payment and this includes:
The minimum bonus payment will be €20. If you’re eligible for two social welfare payments, you’ll get the Christmas bonus for both of them.
It’s paid along with your welfare payment so you’ll get double your usual amount that week.
You don’t have to apply for the bonus, if you qualify you’ll automatically get it.
If your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant currently gets an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) payment, then they’ll also get the Christmas bonus paid directly to them.
This year, if you’ve been receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) or equivalent Jobseeker’s Payments for four months or more, you’ll qualify for the bonus.
Some other examples of qualifying welfare payments for the Christmas bonus include:
There are many more qualifying payment types, check here for the full list.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is paid monthly but it’s still just 100% of the weekly amount that you’ll receive for the bonus.
Some payments such as basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance only qualify if you’ve been getting them for 15 months or more.
If you’re getting any type of social welfare payment, it’s worth checking if you qualify.