Brendan Griffin
Question:280. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Christmas bonus will be paid to supplementary welfare recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58151/21]
View answerThursday, 25 November 2021
Questions (280)
Written answers
I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid in early December this year benefitting over 1.4 million people in recipient of long-term social welfare payments. The payment of the Bonus this year will cost €313 million.
As we know, this payment is an additional help to people as we enter the Christmas period and much of this is spent locally, supporting local economies throughout the country.
The Bonus includes payments to 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.
Long-term recipients of the Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance will receive the Christmas Bonus. Generally, this would require a person to be in receipt of the payment for a period of at least 15 months. This year, however, I am reducing that period to 12 months.