Here's when social welfare payments will be paid over Christmas
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The Government has confirmed a number of changes have been made to dates on which a number of social welfare payments will be available over the Christmas period.
The payments are among 10 bonuses included in the €2.2bn cost-of-living package confirmed by the Government as part of Budget 2025 in October.
Last month, the Department of Social Protection confirmed some changes had been made to dates on which a number of social welfare payments will be available over the Christmas period.
Payments due to be paid on , will be processed as normal. However, payments due to be paid on December 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 will be processed on the week beginning .
Finally, those due to receive a payment on January 1 will instead receive them on .
Announcing the alterations, a department spokesperson said those claiming on a casual basis: where dockets have been provided in advance, two payments covering the signing weeks ending December 17 and December 24 (Jobseeker’s Allowance), or December 18 and December 25 (Jobseeker’s Benefit) will be paid into accounts on December 20.
"Normal payment arrangements for the week ending December 31 and January 1 will resume on Tuesday, 2025," the spokesperson added.
"Illness Benefit customers: please continue to send in your ‘Certificate of Incapacity for Work’ over the Christmas and New Year period."
All Department of Social Protection offices, including Intreo Centres and branch offices, will be closed on Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day, and New Year's Day.
The , a once-off double-week payment for people getting a long-term social welfare payment, was paid the week starting to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment.
The bonus for 2024 was 100% of the normal weekly payment, and those who qualify automatically received it. The minimum bonus amount paid was €20.
A , a monthly payment to parents of guardians of children under the age of 16, was also included in this year's budget.
A double payment of the benefit for each child was paid to those eligible on November 5. Another once-off double payment for each child was due to be paid on Tuesday, . Additionally, A Newborn Baby Grant of €280 — in addition to the first month of Child Benefit of €140 - was paid to children born on or after .
Those in receipt of the child support grant, formerly known as ‘Qualified Child’ payment, were paid a €100 bonus on the week beginning .
In Budget 2025 it was announced that:
A once-off payment of €100 for each qualifying child will be paid to people who get an increase for a qualified child (November 2024). And the weekly rate will increase by €4, from €46 to €50, for children under 12 years of age, and by €8, from €54 to €62, for children aged 12 years and over (January 2025).
More information on the CSP can be found on Citizen's Information.
Finally, it was also announced in Budget 2025 that all domestic electricity customers will get €250 off their electricity bills over the winter period.
The energy credit will be paid in two instalments of €125 each.
The date you get your credit depends on the date your supplier normally sends you your bill. The credit may not appear on your first bill during these payment periods, it depends on each customer's individual billing cycle. Each electricity supplier will have information on their websites as to the exact dates the credit will be issued.
That said, the first payment, was due to be made between and , so some people reading this may already have gotten their credit.
The second credit will be made between and of next year.
The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities is overseeing the scheme. More details on the credits and the criteria for them can be read on the CRU's website.