THOSE IN RECEIPT of social welfare payments will receive their Christmas bonus payments in the first week of December.

The payments will be given to 1.2 million recipients.

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said the payments for pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and people who are long-term unemployed will be retained at 85% this year.

Abolished in 2009, the Christmas bonus was partially restored by the then Tánaiste Joan Burton in 2014 and has increased to the current 85%.

The Christmas bonus will cost €219 million this year.

The bonus will be paid to those receiving the state pension, widow’s and widower’s pension, guardian’s payment, invalidity pension, blind pension, deserted wife’s benefit, carer’s allowance and benefit, disability allowance, farm assist, long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance, Long-term Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, TÚS, Gateway and Job initiative.

Related: Budget 2018: Here are the main points you need to know>

As it happened: A sugar tax, €5 extra for welfare, and a huge plan for housing – Budget 2018 is revealed>

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More