Thousands of people will be eligible for a Christmas bonus social welfare payment under a memo going to Cabinet this morning.
Those in receipt of illness benefit for 12 months or more will receive a double payment this Christmas under the proposal being brought forward by Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys. There are an estimated 17,500 people that will benefit from the proposed extension of the Christmas payment.
The standard rate of illness benefit, for those earning more than €300 a week gross, is €208, which means the benefit will be worth €416 in Christmas bonus week. A source close to the Minister last night told the Irish Mirror that she expects her ministerial colleagues at this morning’s Cabinet meeting to rubberstamp her proposal.
