All social welfare recipients entitled to a Christmas bonus will receive the payment on the week beginning December 7.
The Minister for Social Protection confirmed today that the bonus will be paid to over 1.6 million recipients at a cost of €390 million.
As per previous years, the 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid to long term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents.
On an exceptional basis this year, the Christmas Bonus will also be paid to recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) provided they have been in receipt of a PUP payment - continuously or otherwise - for at least 4 months (17 weeks) since March.
It’s estimated that 311,270 people who have been on the PUP will receive the Christmas Bonus, totally over €93 million.
This means that approximately 90% of PUP recipients (currently 350,000) are in line to receive a Christmas Bonus.
Speaking today, Minister Heather Humphreys said: " Christmas brings many extra financial pressures and I am particularly pleased to provide a 100% Christmas Bonus this year for over 1.6 million people.
"I would strongly encourage people to spend their Christmas Bonus locally this year and support our local shops and businesses in our towns and villages throughout the country. This will be a €390 million injection into the Irish economy at a time when many small businesses will be reopening their doors as restrictions are eased."
