As the Christmas season approaches, a number of changes are made to social welfare payments in order to accommodate the holidays.
The notoriously expensive festivities are already beginning, and so knowing when payments are coming through is vital to budget for the rest of the year.
From weekly payments in the post office to those paid directly into bank accounts and the double payment, here’s everything you need to know about upcoming date changes:
Double payment
Every year, a double payment week is scheduled to ensure those in receipt of benefits in Ireland are not left short.
All welfare and state pension recipients that are paid weekly receive their normal payments as well as an advance payment during the week beginning Monday, December 13.
The advance payment is in place of the scheduled payment on Monday, December 20, and so there won’t be a payment in that week.
Any other payments you’re expecting between December 20 and 24, will have been paid the previous week as a double payment - don’t mistake it for the Christmas bonus!
Payments to post offices
A number of changes have been made from December 27 to January 3, while normal payment dates will resume from Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
The full list of changes is as follows:
- Payments due for collection on Monday, December 27 may be collected from Tuesday, December 21
- Payments due for collection on Tuesday, December 28 may be collected from Wednesday, December 22
- Payments due for collection on Wednesday, December 29 2021 may be collected from Thursday, December 23
- Payments due for Monday, January 3 2022 may be collected from Friday, December 31
Payments to bank accounts
As for payments that arrive directly into your bank account, similar changes apply, including:
- Payments due Monday, December 27 will be paid on Friday, December 24
- Payments due Tuesday, December 28 will be paid on Friday, December 24
- Payments due Wednesday, December 29 will be paid on Friday, December 24
- Payments due Monday, Jan 3 will be paid on Thursday, December 30
