Christmas Bonus

What is the Christmas Bonus?

The Christmas Bonus is an extra 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?

A Christmas Bonus of 100% will be paid during the week beginning 4 December 2023 to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see below).

If you are getting Illness Benefit for 12 months or more, the payment date is different – you will receive the Christmas Bonus between 5 December 2023 and 22 December 2023.

The Bonus is normally paid with your social welfare payment.

Once-off double week in January 2024

A once-off double week for all weekly qualifying social welfare payments will be paid in the week beginning 29 January 2024. Payments that qualify for the Christmas Bonus will qualify for the once-off double week.

Who gets a Christmas Bonus?

A Christmas Bonus is paid to people getting long-term social welfare payments. The minimum bonus amount that will be paid is €20.

You are paid a Christmas Bonus if you are getting:

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

How much is the Christmas Bonus?

In 2023, the Christmas Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly payment (including the Living Alone Increase, the Island Allowance and the Over-80 Increase).

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: 7 December 2023