Here's when the Christmas bonus and other social welfare payments will be paid 

Here's a list of the payments scheduled to be made in the coming days and weeks:

Social welfare 

On Thursday, 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 December 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, 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 December 16.

Finally, those due to receive a payment on January 1 will instead receive them on December 31.

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, January 7 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.

Christmas bonus 

The Christmas bonus, a once-off double-week payment for people getting a long-term social welfare payment, will be paid the week starting December 2 to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment.

This year's bonus is 100% of the normal weekly payment, and those who qualify will automatically receive it. The minimum bonus amount that will be paid is €20.

The bonus will be paid to those in receipt of several specific long-term social welfare payments. Exact details on who qualifies for the Christmas bonus can be found here.

Double child benefit

A double child benefit, 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 will be paid on Tuesday, December 3. Additionally, A Newborn Baby Grant of €280 — in addition to the first month of Child Benefit of €140 - will be paid to children born on or after December 1.

Child Support Payment (CSP) 

Those in receipt of the child support grant, formerly known as ‘Qualified Child’ payment, will be paid a €100 bonus on the week beginning November 25.

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. 

Energy credit 

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 November 1 and December 31, so some people reading this may already have gotten their credit.

The second credit will be made between January 1 and February 28 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.