What is the Christmas bonus in Ireland?

What is the Christmas bonus?

The Christmas bonus is an extra payment made before Christmas for anyone on long-term social welfare benefits in Ireland.

The payment is provided to cover some of the additional costs over the festive season.

When will the bonus be paid?

The Christmas bonus in 2024 will be paid the first week in December to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment.

You do not need to apply for the Bonus, if you qualify you’ll automatically get it with your welfare payment.

How much is it?

This is decided in October each year when the Budget is announced. It can be part or all of your usual weekly welfare payment.

In 2024, the Christmas Bonus will be double your normal weekly welfare payment.

How is it paid?

It’s paid along with your welfare payment so you’ll get double your usual amount that week.

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.

You don’t have to apply for the bonus; you’ll get it automatically if you qualify.

Who is entitled to the bonus?

If you’ve been receiving Jobseeker’s Payments for twelve months or more, you’ll qualify for the bonus.

Some other examples of qualifying welfare payments for the Christmas bonus include:

• Back to education allowance
• State pension - contributory and non contributory
• Disability allowance
• Invalidity pension
• Back to work family dividend
• One parent family payment
• Farm Assist
• Domiciliary Care Allowance

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.

Is there any more help for social welfare recipients?

To learn more about financial support for household bills, visit What help can you get paying your energy bills?

The Government also announced once-off social welfare bonuses to cover the cost of living in Budget 2025, including:

• €400 Working Family Payment
• €300 Fuel Allowance
• €400 Disability Support Grant and Carer Support Grant
• €200 Living Alone Allowance
• Child Benefit - two double payments in November and December
• All social welfare recipients - cost of living bonus in October (paid on the same basis as Christmas Bonus)