Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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79. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 428 of 20 October 2020, if the Christmas bonus will be paid to those on jobseeker's benefit. [40520/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In general the Christmas Bonus is paid to recipients of long-term social welfare payments who are dependent upon their social welfare payment for most or all of their income for what is normally a prolonged period.

As an exceptional measure due to the severe impact of COVID-19 on employment levels and on customers financial circumstances, the bonus will be paid to all jobseekers and Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients, including those in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit, who have been in receipt of their social welfare payment for a minimum of 4 months. This four month period does not necessarily need to be continuous.

The rate of payment for the Christmas Bonus will be 100% of a person’s normal rate of social welfare payment and will be included in the normal weekly payment paid in the week commencing 7th December 2020.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.