Hopkins welcomes payment of Christmas Bonus to 1.2 million

Fine Gael General Election candidate Maura Hopkins has commended the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection on her decision to re-introduce the Christmas Bonus which will benefit social welfare recipients and their dependents. A Pensioner couple both in receipt of the non-contributory State Pension stand to receive a bonus payment of €328.50m, and a carer in receipt of Carer’s Allowance with two dependent children will receive an extra €197.70 next week when the payments are distributed.

Speaking in Roscommon town this week, Councillor Hopkins said that she felt the return of 75% of the bonus offered in peak years was a fair decision due to the positive developments in the State’s finances over the past year.

“Fine Gael and Labour have led a recovery over the past four years in Government, and the re-introduction of the Christmas bonus will benefit those most in need of financial assistance in the run up to Christmas, the group who may have felt the results of the economy the least. It is not just pensioners and those in receipt of social welfare payments that will benefit from the bonus, but those dependent on them and the local economy in which the bonuses will be spent”.

Weekly social welfare payments with which the Christmas Bonus will be paid include State Pension (Contributory, Non-Contributory), Widow’s and Widower’s (Contributory and Non Contributory Pension), Guardian’s Payment (Contributory and Non-Contributory), Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Deserted Wife’s Benefit, Carer’s Allowance and Benefit, Disability Allowance, Farm Assist long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance and long-term Supplementary Welfare Allowance. The Bonus is also being paid to certain participants of Community Employment, Back to Education, Rural Social Scheme, Gateway, Tus and the Back to Work Family Dividend.