Christmas Day is just over two weeks away, meaning thousands of social welfare recipients will see big changes to their payment dates.
There will be reduced opening hours at banks and post offices over the festive season as staff across the country take holidays.
This means that people claiming social welfare are set to have their usual payment dates impacted by these closures.
Post offices and banks open for a half-day on December 24 and will not open again until December 30. They will also be closed on Monday, January 3.
As a result of this, social welfare payments will be issued a few days earlier than usual.
According to Money Guide Ireland, here are the changes expected for weekly payments to bank accounts this Christmas:
- Due: Friday, December 24 - Paid: Friday, December 24
- Due: Monday, December 27 - Paid: Friday, December 24
- Due: Tuesday, December 28 - Paid: Friday, December 24
- Due: Wednesday, December 29 - Paid: Friday, December 24
- Due: Thursday, December 30 - Paid: Thursday, December 30
- Due: Friday, December 31 - Paid: Friday, December 31
- Due: Monday, January 3 - Paid: Thursday, December 30
As for the changes expected for weekly payments to post offices, the same site predicts:
- Due: Monday, December 27 - Paid: Tuesday, December 21
- Due: Tuesday, December 28 - Paid: Wednesday, December 22
- Due: Wednesday, December 29 - Paid: Thursday, December 23
- Due: Thursday, December 30 - Paid: Thursday, December 30
- Due: Friday, December 31 - Paid: Friday, December 31
- Due: Monday, January 3 - Paid: Friday, December 31
It comes as thousands of people across the country received their Christmas Bonus this week.
The annual cash benefit is given to people claiming a long-term social welfare payment.
The bonus is 100% of the normal weekly long-term social welfare payment which claimants receive, with the minimum amount being €20.
