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Know Your Rights has been compiled by Citizens Information Kerry which provides a free and confidential service to the public…
Q. I am in receipt of a weekly social welfare payment and I am wondering if I will get the Christmas Bonus?
A. In general the Christmas Bonus is an extra payment paid to people in receipt of an eligible long-term social welfare payment. In 2021, people getting the following payments will get a Christmas Bonus:
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• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
• COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)
• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance and Benefit (including half-rate Carer’s Allowance)
• Community Employment
• Deserted Wife’s Allowance and Benefit
• Daily Expenses Allowance, formerly called Direct Provision Allowance (long-term only – 12 months)
• Disability Allowance
• Disablement Pension and Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension under the Occupational Injuries Scheme
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Farm Assist
• Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
• Invalidity Pension
• Job Initiative
• Jobseeker’s Allowance (for at least 104 days)
• Jobseeker’s Transitional payment
• Magdalene Laundry Payment
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Partial Capacity Benefit
• Rural Social Scheme
• State Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance (long-term only – 12 months)
• Tús
• Widow, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
Q. How much is the Christmas Bonus?
A. In 2021, the Christmas Bonus will be 100% of your normal weekly payment (including the Living Alone Increase, the Island Allowance and the Over-80 Increase). The Christmas Bonus does not include Fuel Allowance. The minimum Christmas Bonus payment is €20.
If an Increase for a Qualified Adult is paid directly to your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, the Christmas Bonus is also paid directly to them.
If you are getting two eligible social welfare payments (for example, a One-Parent Family Payment and the Domiciliary Care Allowance or a half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well as your primary payment) you get the Christmas Bonus for both payments.
• During COVID-19, you can find comprehensive integrated information online at citizensinformation.ie/covid19/ and you can get daily updates on what’s changed on Twitter at @citizensinfo. You can also get information and advice from:
Tralee on Tel: Call 0818 07 7860, Monday – Friday (10am-4pm)
The Citizens Information Phone Service: Call 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm
Our national call back service: Visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to request a phone call from an information officer
