Minister Mary clears welfare bonus in time for big pay-out
Overall, the Christmas bonus will benefit some 792,000 recipients and an estimated 413,000 dependents.
It is mainly paid to people such as social welfare pensioners and long-term unemployed people who rely totally on their social welfare payments for financial support. The people to benefit from the Christmas bonus include those getting an old age, retirement, invalidity, widow’s, widower’s and orphan’s pension, recipients of one- parent family payment, deserted wife’s benefit, carer’s allowance, pre-retirement allowance, disability allowance, farm assist, long-term unemployment assistance, employment support payments (eg., back-to-work allowance) and certain occupational injuries benefits.
The bonus will also be paid to certain participants of FÁS, VTOS, job initiative and CE schemes and certain income maintenance schemes operated by the Department of Health and Children.
December is a difficult time for many people, none more so than the people who are depending on long-term welfare. I am delighted that I am in a position to provide a full 100% Christmas bonus.
However, I have to take issue with your editorial which questions the timing of the cabinet approving this payment. The reason for the announcement is simply because cabinet approval must be sought for the discretionary payment at this time of year so that my department can put the necessary mechanisms in place to make the payment during the first week of December. Last year, for example, this announcement was made on October 7 and in the previous year on October 8.
Mary Coughlan, TD,
Minister for Social and Family Affairs
