Social welfare recipients are set to be paid early in the coming days due to a schedule change.
Christmas and New Year's are just around the corner, and due to the closure of banks and post offices over the festive period, payment dates will change.
Thousands of social welfare recipients received a double payment last week, as they will not be paid as usual this week.
Read more:Full list of social welfare changes coming into effect in January
Read more:New group to be eligible for payment of up to €373 a week from January
If you get a weekly social welfare payment, you will have received your payment as usual during the week starting Monday 16 December 2024, and an advanced payment for the following week.
However, there are more changes to come, as banks and post offices will be closed on New Year's Day also. Anyone set to be paid on the 1st of January will be paid earlier on the 31st of December.
In a statement on their website, the Department of Social Protection has said: "If you get a social welfare payment, the date which you receive your payment may change during the Christmas and New Year period. Details of all payment arrangements for this period are provided below.
"If 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."
Payment due date Payment will be made on 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 December 2024 No change 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 December 2024 week Beginning 16 December 1 January 2025 31 December 2024The DSP have also warned: "The change in social welfare payment dates will also affect part-time, casual or short-time workers over the Christmas and New Year period. In order to ensure you receive your payments on time this month, please follow the guidelines on MyWelfare.ie on how to submit your work patterns correctly.
"If you are claiming on a casual basis: where dockets have been provided in advance, two payments covering the signing weeks ending 17 and 24 December (Jobseeker’s Allowance), or 18 and 25 December (Jobseeker’s Benefit) will be paid into accounts on 20 December.
"Normal payment arrangements for week ending 31 December and 1 January will resume on Tuesday, 7 January 2025."
