Last September, I announced the largest Social Protection budget in the history of the State, providing over €2.2 billion in supports to people across the State. This was in recognition of the pressures facing households due to the increasing cost of living. I was also pleased to announce two "double week" bonus payments - an Autumn bonus and a Christmas bonus. For the first time in 2023, the Christmas Bonus was extended to long-term recipients of Illness Benefit.
Recipients of these bonuses include pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income.
All of these double week payments included payment of a double Qualified Adult increase where one was in payment on the eligible primary recipient's claim.