John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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18. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57543/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid in early December this year benefitting over 1.4 million people in recipient of long-term social welfare payments. The payment of the Bonus this year will cost €313 million.

As we know, this payment is an additional help to people as we enter the Christmas period and much of this is spent locally, supporting local economies throughout the country.

The Bonus includes payments to pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income.

Generally, jobseekers receive the Christmas Bonus after 15 months of unemployment. This year, however, I am reducing that period to 12 months. Those in receipt of a jobseeker payment, or the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, for 12 months or more will receive the Bonus. Periods spent on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be combined with a jobseeker payment in order to satisfy the 12 month duration requirement.