Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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509. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Christmas bonus will be paid; and to which categories of social welfare recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51209/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that an 85% Christmas bonus will be paid this year to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and long-term jobseekers at a cost of €219 million.

Payment of the Bonus commenced this week from Monday 27^thNovember and most eligible recipients will receive the Bonus this week, depending on the payment date of the scheme.

All recipients in the relevant week of the following eligible schemes will receive the Bonus, which is paid as an 85% increase to the weekly payment.

Social Assistance Schemes

-State Pension Non-Contributory

-One Parent Family Payment

-Widow(er)s' and Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Non-Contributory)

-Deserted Wife's Allowance

-Farm Assist

-Pre-Retirement Allowance

-Community Employment

-Rural Social Scheme

-Tús

-Job Initiative

-Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

-Gateway

-Back to Work Family Dividend

-Disability Allowance

-Blind Pension

-Carer's Allowance

-Domiciliary Care Allowance

-Guardian's Payment (non-con)

-Magdalen Commission Scheme

Social Insurance schemes

-State Pension (Contributory)

-Widow(er)s' Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Contributory)

-Occupational Injuries Death Benefit Pension

-Deserted Wife's Benefit

-Partial Capacity Benefit

-Invalidity Pension

-Disablement Benefit

-Carer's Benefit

-Guardian's Payment (Contributory)

In the case of recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Direct Provision Allowance and jobseekers on the Back to Education Allowance scheme, the person must be in receipt of an eligible payment for a minimum of 15 months in order to qualify for the Bonus.