Christmas Bonus to be paid in week ahead
The Christmas Bonus will be paid to 1.2 million social welfare recipients in the week ahead with payments totalling €221 million being made to pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents, long-term unemployed and many other recipients.
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar welcomed the payment of a Bonus of 85% this year which will benefit 590,000 pensioners and 620,000 other welfare recipients.
]The majority of customers will receive the bonus during the coming week (ending December 2nd) resulting in an injection into the economy, in particular into the retail sector, of €221 million.
Minister Varadkar said: “I’m very pleased that the Christmas Bonus is being paid again this year. It’s an important payment in the run-up to the festive season, and I’m especially pleased that we have been able to pay it at a rate of 85% of the benefit. This is the highest level of payment since the bonus was abolished by the previous Government.
“The most important impact of the Christmas Bonus is for the recipients. But it also represents a significant boost for local economies with an additional €221 million being made available.”