The social welfare payments will be paid from next week ahead of Christmas, the Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed. It will cost €1.4 million this time and most of the recipients will get the amount before Christmas.
The payments for pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and people who are long-term unemployed will be retained at 100% this year, Minister Heather Humphreys said.
Long-term recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will also receive the payment.
The payments will total over €313 million and will be issued to nominated bank accounts and post offices.
“This past two years has been so difficult for our small and medium businesses. I am therefore urging everyone to consider spending the Christmas bonus locally this year,” she said.
Minister has also announced that the qualifying period for people in receipt of an eligible jobseeker’s payment has been reduced to 12 months from 15 months. Time spent on the PUP by customers who have since moved to a jobseeker’s payment will count towards reaching the 12 month requirement.
Source: Journal.ie