This festive season thankfully will bring some welcome financial relief to many across Ireland.
Two cost of living payments are set to be issued to over a million households and a new grant for parents of newborns will begin.
Here’s a breakdown of all the key changes for December:
From today, December 2nd, the Christmas Bonus will be automatically paid to 1.38 million people receiving primary weekly welfare payments.
This year, the bonus is 100% of the usual weekly payment, with a minimum amount of €20.
There’s no need to apply as eligible recipients will receive it alongside their regular payment.
Among the qualifying Social Welfare payments are:
Full eligibility details are available for those on specific programs like Back to Education Allowance or Rural Social Scheme.
On Tuesday, December 3rd, more than 660,000 families will receive a second double Child Benefit payment of €280 per child.
This follows the first double payment issued in November, providing a significant boost for families during the holiday season.
From December 1st, 2024, parents of newborns will receive a Newborn Baby Grant of €280.
This is in addition to the first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140, offering a combined €420 to support families welcoming new arrivals.
These measures aim to ease the financial pressure on households, providing extra support during the costly holiday period and beyond.
