THE PARTIALLY RESTORED Christmas bonus payments are to be paid out this week the Department of Social Protection has confirmed.

The bonus is paid to long-term welfare claimants such as jobseekers, pensioners, carers, lone-parents and those with a disability.

The bonus amounts to 25% on top of a claimant’s usual payment and will be paid to 1.23 million customers on social welfare this year, costing the exchequer €65 million.

The bonus will amount to a minimum of €20 with those in receipt of the full Jobseekers Benefit payment receiving an additional €47.

Only jobseekers who have been out of work for over 15 months are entitled to the Christmas Bonus with Minster of State for Employment Kevin Humphreys commenting that it “is a recognition that they have lost jobs through no fault of their own”.

Over half a million recipients of the State Pension will be paid the bonus on Friday with those on disability payments and carers receiving their bonus on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

The once-off Christmas bonus was abolished by the Fianna Fáil government in 2009 in the midst of the financial crisis. It was partially restored as part of last month’s budget.

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said that the bonus “will help these people to meet some of the additional costs around the Christmas season”.

Read: Could the Christmas Bonus be restored in next month’s Budget? >

Read: The main things you really need to know from Budget 2015 >

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