Christmas Bonus and Double Child Benefit payments to be paid this week
- Published on: 2 December 2024
- Last updated on: 10 December 2024
- Christmas Bonus to be paid to over 1.38 million people
- 676,000 families to receive double Child Benefit payments tomorrow
- payments totalling over €535 million to support people with the cost of living
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has today announced the details for the lump sum social welfare payments that are being paid this week.
Over 1.38 million people will receive the Christmas Bonus payment this week.
The Christmas Bonus provides a 100% increase in the weekly rate of payment for eligible recipients including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents.
People will receive the Christmas Bonus in addition to and on the same day that they normally receive their primary payment.
Furthermore, on Tuesday 3 December 2024, 676,000 families, in respect of over 1.27 million children, will receive a double Child Benefit payment.
Announcing the payment details, Minister Humphreys commented:
“This week, we are rolling out more lump sum payments that I secured as part of Budget 2025.
“Throughout the week some 1.4 million people will receive the Christmas Bonus payment. This will support people up and down the country including pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families.
“In addition to the Christmas Bonus, on Tuesday we will have the second of our double Child Benefit payments that will support over 1.27 million children across the State. This means that families will receive payments of €280 per child tomorrow.
“These payments mean people will have extra money in their pockets in the run up to Christmas, which will ease the pressure that many households are facing.”
Both the Christmas Bonus and Double Child Benefit payments are paid automatically, people do not need to apply.
The full list of Budget 2025 Social Protection measures is available at gov.ie/DSPbudget2025.
Notes
Child Benefit is a monthly payment of €140 for each child. The payment for November and December has been doubled to €280 for each child.
Child Benefit is paid to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years.
The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 19th birthday if they are in full-time education or have a disability.
County breakdown of Child Benefit recipients
Christmas Bonus
The Christmas Bonus will be paid this week. Over 1.38 million people will benefit, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents. Recipients of Illness Benefit for longer than 12 months will also receive the bonus, as they have done in recent years.