A Christmas bonus double payment will be paid to over 1.3 million social welfare recipients next week, including those on the long-term illness benefit for the first time.
The bonus payment will be made to pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, widows and parents and will be paid in addition to everyone’s normal weekly payment.
The seasonal bonus payment, which the Minister of Social Protection Heather Humphreys claimed her department acquired at a cost of almost €300 million, comes after seven lump sum payments totaling €1.2 billion that were issued to help individuals with their cost of living over the previous six weeks.
The payout will go to 17,500 persons receiving the long-term illness benefit, but only those who have been receiving it for at least a year would be eligible. Between December 6 and December 23, these individuals will get their bonus payout.
The purpose of the payment, according to Humphreys, is to "put more money in the wallets of our elderly, caregivers, people with disabilities, widows, and lone parents."
She continued, expressing her delight in particular that this year's double payment will be given to recipients of the long-term illness benefit.
A tiny group of people with serious medical illnesses receive Illness Benefit for lengthier periods of time than the great majority of people, who often receive it for very brief durations before returning to work.
"These are individuals who have paid PRSI for their whole working life and now must take time off from employment due to serious and perhaps chronic health issues. Many people have brought up this problem with me, and I'm happy to clarify that those who have received illness benefits for 12 months or longer will now be paid," the Minister continued.
In the run-up to Christmas, she also urged people to patronize small, neighborhood businesses.
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