There are going to be lots of changes to the social welfare payment schedule over the coming weeks due to the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Most social welfare recipients receive a double payment the week before Christmas to make up for a lack of payment on Christmas week.
Normally, Child Benefit payments are made early to account for the New Year Bank Holiday, however this year the payment will be made later than usual.
Read more: Social welfare Ireland: Government confirm when €130 a month boost will come to an end
Read more: What cost of living benefits will be paid and what bills are going up in December
Check out the full welfare payment schedule for Christmas 2024 below:
Weekly paymentsIf you receive a weekly social welfare payment, you will get your payment as usual during the week commencing Monday 16 December, and an advanced payment for the following week. This applies to payments made at post offices, by cheque or directly into your financial institution account.
Payments due on: 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 December 2024 - No change
Payments due on: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 December 2024 - Moved to week beginning 16 December
Payments due on 1 January 2025 - Moved to 31 December 2024
Child Benefit:In previous years, the monthly Child Benefit payment was made early to allow for the New Year’s Day Bank Holiday, however this year, the 1st of January is a Wednesday and as Child Benefit is paid on the first Tuesday of the month, the payment will be made as normal.
January Child Benefit payment date: Tuesday 7th January.
January 2025 energy credit:The second €125 instalment of the energy credit to help Irish households with the cost of living is due to be automatically paid into electricity customer accounts in January.
€125 energy credit: Paid between 1 January 2025 - 28 February, 2025
January payment changes:There are lots of other payment changes happening in January after they were announced as part of Budget 2025. They include:
€12 increase in most weekly social welfare payments. €15 increase in Maternity Benefit, Paternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent's Benefit to €289 per week. The national minimum wage will increase by 80 cents to €13.50 per hour.The 4% rate of Universal Social Charge (USC) will be reduced to 3%.
€20 increase a month in Domiciliary Care Allowance.
It’s also worth noting all department offices, including Intreo Centres and Branch Offices, will be closed on 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.
