Christmas Bonus

What is the Christmas Bonus?

The Christmas Bonus is a once-off double week payment for people getting a long-term social welfare payment.

You do not need to apply for the Bonus. If you qualify, you’ll automatically get it.

When is the Christmas Bonus paid?

The Christmas Bonus will be paid in December 2024 to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see below).

The Bonus is normally paid with your social welfare payment.

Who gets a Christmas Bonus?

A Christmas Bonus is paid to people getting long-term social welfare payments.

You are paid a Christmas Bonus if you are getting:

You will get a Christmas Bonus if you are getting a VTOS or Youthreach training allowance for at least 12 months. If you were getting a qualifying payment (see list above) immediately before your training allowance, you can combine this time to reach 12 months.

Fuel Allowance is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus.

How much is the Christmas Bonus?

In 2024, the Christmas Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly payment. The minimum Bonus amount that will be paid is €20.

If an Increase for a Qualified Adult is paid directly to your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, the Christmas Bonus is also paid directly to them.

If you are getting 2 eligible social welfare payments (for example, a One-Parent Family Payment and the Domiciliary Care Allowance or a half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well as your primary payment) you will get the Christmas Bonus for both payments.

For Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), which is paid monthly, the bonus is 100% of the weekly DCA rate. The DCA portion of the bonus is calculated independently of other payments.

Page edited: 23 October 2024