Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2023
129. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person is awarded disability allowance and transitions from jobseeker’s allowance does this change their eligibility for the Christmas bonus associated with long-term social welfare payments. [32933/23]
View answerLast December the Christmas Bonus was paid to approximately 1.3 million pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and long-term unemployed people in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income.
Jobseekers are eligible for the Bonus if they are long-term recipients of a jobseeker payment (over 12 months). Those in receipt of Disability Allowance are eligible for the Bonus with no duration requirement. Therefore, a person who has transferred from Jobseeker's Allowance to Disability Allowance would be eligible for the Christmas Bonus once they are in receipt of Disability Allowance in the relevant week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
