THE GOVERNMENT has announced details of the 2021 Christmas bonus, with 1.4 million people in Ireland expected to be in receipt of it beginning next week.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD announced bonus on Wednesday, December 1.
A 100% bonus has been secured again this year, at a cost of over €313 million, and will be paid to long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and lone parents.
Minister Humphreys also announced that the qualifying period for people in receipt of an eligible Jobseeker’s payment has been reduced to 12 months from 15 months.
Long-term recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will also receive this year’s Christmas bonus, with time spent on the PUP by customers who have since moved to a Jobseeker’s payment counting towards reaching the 12 month requirement.
Announcing the bonus, Minister Humphreys said the festive period "is a special time of the year but it can be a particularly expensive period for individuals and families.
"Therefore, I’m really pleased to announce that a 100% Christmas bonus will once again be paid this year, benefitting almost 1.4 million people.
"The bonus will be paid into people’s accounts beginning next week – providing an additional support to the likes of our pensioners, carers, lone parents, people on disabilities and people on a long-term jobseeker’s payment."
She urged people to spend the bonus locally this year, as the real community is "still feeling the impact of Covid-19"
"This past two years has been so difficult for our small and medium businesses. I am therefore urging everyone to consider spending the Christmas bonus locally this year.
"If we keep our business in our towns, we will keep our towns in business," she finished.
