Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 283: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the payments which are subject to a Christmas bonus and the way that bonus is applied in each case. [43515/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Christmas Bonus is paid to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments. The payment was made at the beginning of this month, at an estimated €157 million this year and benefited some 1.25 million persons comprising 855,000 recipients and 394,000 dependants.

The focus of the bonus has always been on persons who rely on the social welfare system for financial support over the long term. These include recipients of Blind Pension, Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Death Benefit by way of pension, Disability Allowance, Disablement Pension, Farm Assist, Guardian's Payment (Contributory and Non-Contributory), Invalidity Pension, Jobseeker's Allowance in respect of a continuous period of unemployment of at least 15 months, One-parent Family Payment, Pre-Retirement Allowance, Deserted Wife's Benefit and Allowance, Prisoner's Wife's Allowance, State Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory), State Pension (Transition), Widow's and Widower's (Contributory) Pension, and Widow's and Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension. As Carer's Benefit is now payable for up to 2 years, the bonus was, for the first time this year, paid to recipients of this benefit. The bonus is also payable to recipients of certain income support payments administered by the Ministers for Health and Children, Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 284: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will arrange for a full payment to persons on disability benefit similar to the Christmas bonus granted to persons on other social welfare payments. [43538/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Christmas Bonus has again been paid this year to all recipients of long-term social welfare payments, at a rate equivalent to 100% of the person's normal weekly payment, subject to a minimum payment of €30. This measure costs an estimated €157 million this year and benefited some 1.25 million persons comprising 855,000 recipients and 394,000 dependants.

The focus of the bonus has always been on persons who rely on the social welfare system for financial support over the long term. These include recipients of State Pension (Transition), State Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory), Widow's, Widower's and Invalidity Pensions, One-parent Family Payment, Carer's Allowance, Disability Allowance, long-term Jobseeker's Allowance, Farm Assist and people in receipt of employment support payments.

As Carer's Benefit is now payable for up to 2 years, the bonus was, for the first time this year, paid to recipients of this benefit.

The bonus is also payable to participants in the Rural Social Scheme, which was introduced in 2004, and operates under the aegis of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Any extension of entitlement to the bonus payment to short-term schemes would have significant cost implications. In relation to illness benefit, it is open to persons who have been in receipt of illness benefit for at least a year to apply for Invalidity Pension, and, if they qualify for the pension, they would also qualify for the Christmas Bonus payment.