Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:154. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Christmas social welfare bonus will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62026/25]
View answerThursday, 13 November 2025
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Budget 2026 provides for €28.9 billion to be spent on social welfare in 2026, including €1.15 billion of new social protection measures supporting pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, jobseekers and families in every parish across the country. This expenditure makes a real difference to communities across the country.
A Christmas Bonus payment was announced as part of Budget 2026. The Christmas Bonus will be paid this year to recipients of long-term social welfare payments (with a minimum payment of €20). Over 1.47 million people will benefit, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and long-term unemployed people. Recipients of Illness Benefit for longer than 12 months will also receive the bonus, as they did in 2024.
Illness Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Daily Expenses Allowance recipients must have been in receipt of an eligible payment for at least 12 months in order to qualify for a Bonus payment.
The Bonus will be paid in early December.