As part of Budget 2022, which was announced on Tuesday, social welfare recipients will receive a Christmas bonus.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys secured the deal with Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath.
Those receiving benefits will get a double payment in one of the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Last year the Christmas bonus payment was delivered during the second week of December, with a similar date of delivery expected this year.
Minister Humphreys announced that the bonus will be paid to 1.4 million people along with a €5 increase in weekly welfare payments that will come into effect in January 2022.
People who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment will once again be eligible to receive the Christmas bonus.
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection told the Irish Mirror: "The PUP is a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus."
Others who are eligible to receive the bonus include:
· State Pensions and Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner’s Pensions, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Guardian’s payment.
· One-Parent Family payment, Jobseeker’s Transition payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit and Allowance and Farm Assist.
· Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, TUS and Job Initiative.
· Long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Daily Expenses Allowance.
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said: "I am pleased to have secured Government approval for the payment of the social welfare Christmas bonus again this year.
"It will be a 100 per cent Bonus and will be paid in early December. Recipients of long-term social welfare payments including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents will receive the bonus."
The bonus was restored for the first time in ten years to a full 100 per cent in 2018.
The Christmas Bonus will cost the government approximately €315m, while the €5 increase will cost around €350m a year.
A complete list of benefits to be increased by €5 per week include:
· Illness Benefit, Partial Capacity Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Paternity Benefit, Parent’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Benefit and Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit For Self-Employed, Occupational Injuries Benefit, Carer’s Benefit, State Pension, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Widow’s Pension, Widower’s Pension and Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension, Guardian’s Payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit and The Incapacity Supplement.
There will also be a €5 increase to the One-Parent Family Payment, Carer's Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Disability Allowance, Farm Assist, Back To Education Allowance, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, Jobs Initiative, Work Placement,
Experience Programme, Back To Work Family Dividend and The Part-Time Job Incentive.
There will also be significant changes in the way carers are means-tested.
This will mean that savings of up to €50,000, instead of the current level of €20,000, will be disregarded when a carer is means-tested.
A change in the amount a couple can earn per week while receiving the benefit will also increase from €665 to €750 a week.
