The government has been forced to implement some new restrictions in the fight against Covid-19 following a rise in both cases and hospitalisations.
A surge in the number of new infections prompted Taoiseach Micheal Martin to confirm that pubs and nightclubs would now be asked to shut at midnight.
There will also be a wider use of Digital Covid Certs, and senior sources have indicted that even more severe restrictions could be on the way.
While there is not yet a belief that Ireland will be entering a strict lockdown, here is everything you need to know about the impact on social welfare if more strict measures are required.
Will there still be a Christmas Bonus payment in lockdown?
Yes. There has currently been no indication that payments would be shelved if Ireland is forced to enter a lockdown next month.
The bonus is due to be paid between December 6 and December 10 and will be paid alongside the claimants usual payment.
The minimum payment is €20, and is currently being paid at 100% of your weekly rate.
However, some people may be eligible for two Christmas Bonus payments.
If you are getting two eligible social welfare payments, for example, you receive a One-Parent Family Payment and the Domiciliary Care Allowance, you will get a Christmas Bonus for both payments.
Some 23 categories of social welfare claims are included in the eligibility list for claimants to receive a Christmas Bonus.
These include:
- 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 - 15 months/over 455 days)
- 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)
- Tús
- Widow, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
The public has also been warned not to mix up the Christmas Bonus with the usual “double week” of welfare and pension payments that are paid out just before Christmas.
This double payment week happens because of the bank and post office closures, so it is followed by a week with no payments.
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