Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
73. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Christmas bonus will be paid; the number of persons in County Wexford who will benefit from the bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40001/20]
View answerThe Christmas Bonus will be paid in the week beginning 7th December to social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on social welfare payments for all, or most, of their income. In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial impact on individuals, the Bonus will be paid this year, on an exceptional basis, to those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period of 17 weeks or more and who are in payment on the date the Bonus is paid. It will also be paid to people on jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these payments for four months or more. The Bonus will benefit over 1.6 million people. It is estimated that there are approximately 57,000 social welfare recipients in Wexford who will benefit.
