Those people doing part-time work and getting Jobseekers Allowance will usually get any Christmas Bonus in the following week (commencing 4th Dec.)
There will also be the usual “double week” of welfare and pension payments just before Christmas.
About 1.3 million people will benefit from the Christmas Bonus (almost 900,000 recipients and an estimated 400,000 dependents). Around €219 million Euro will be paid out.
See the list at the end of the article for all the state pensions/benefits that are eligible for the Christmas Bonus 2017
Some Sample Figures for the Christmas Bonus 2017
The following payment types are eligible for the Christmas Bonus in Ireland…
Back to Education Allowance (people coming from Jobseeker’s payments must have been on their payment and/or BTEA for 15 months)
Back to Work Family Dividend
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
Blind Pension
Carer’s Allowance and Benefit
Community Employment
Deserted Wife’s Allowance and Benefit
Disability Allowance
Disablement Pension
Domiciliary Care Allowance (85% of the weekly amount )
Farm Assist
Gateway
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
Invalidity Pension
Job Initiative
JobBridge (people coming from jobseeker’s payments must have been on their payment and/or JobBridge for 15 months)
Jobseeker’s Allowance (long-term only – over 390 days or 15 months unemployed on JB/JA)
Jobseeker’s Allowance (Transition)
Magdalen Laundry Payments
One-Parent Family Payment
Partial Capacity Benefit
Pre-Retirement Allowance
Rural Social Scheme
State Pension (Contributory), (Non-Contributory) and (Transition)
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (only – over 391 days or 15 months)
Widow, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
VTOS (people coming from jobseeker’s payments must have been on their payment and/or VTOS for 15 months)
People getting Blind Welfare Allowance, Mobility Allowance, and rehabilitative training allowances from the HSE will also get the bonus.
Survivors of Thalidomide who get payments from the Department of Health will also get the Christmas Bonus in 2017.
The Christmas Bonus is also being paid to certain participants of Community Employment, Back to Education, Rural Social Scheme, Gateway, Tus and the Back to Work Family Dividend
It is also paid to most participants on Further Education and Training courses funded by SOLAS. (you must have been getting your jobseeker’s payment and/or your training allowance for 15 months)
For any other questions or queries please talk to one of our financial advisors.