Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2018
565. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person in receipt of illness benefit is not entitled to a Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49067/18]
View answerA Christmas Bonus payment is paid to all customers on a long term social welfare payment. In the week commencing 3 December this year, a 100% Christmas Bonus payment will be made to approximately 1.2 million social welfare recipient at an estimated cost of €264.3 million.
However, as illness benefit is a short term social welfare payment, people in receipt of same are not entitled to the Christmas bonus.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
