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Taking euro notes out of a wallet(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nThousands of social welfare recipients across Ireland will receive an early payment next week due to the Christmas and New Year holidays.Taking euro notes out of a wallet(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
With Christmas just days away, many households across Ireland are feeling the pinch as the cost of living crisis<\/a> continues.<\/p>\n But there’s good news for thousands of people on social welfare, as the Department of Social Protection<\/a> is issuing payments early this festive season.<\/p>\n The move is designed to make sure recipients aren’t left out of pocket while banks and post offices close for the Christmas holidays<\/a>.<\/p>\n Payments originally due on December 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 were brought forward during the week beginning Monday, December 15 – meaning many people received a double payment.<\/p>\n A similar arrangement has also been confirmed ahead of New Year’s Day<\/a>, with payments due on January 1 being made early on December 31 instead.<\/p>\n In a statement on Gov.ie, the Department of Social Protection explained: “If you get a social welfare payment, the date which you receive your payment may change during the Christmas and New Year period.<\/p>\n “If you receive a weekly social welfare payment<\/a>, you will get your payment as usual during the week commencing Monday 15 December, and an advanced payment for the following week. This applies to payments made at post offices<\/a>, by cheque or directly into your financial institution account.<\/p>\n “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Department of Social Protection.”<\/p>\n This early festive boost comes after the Christmas Bonus was paid in the week beginning December 1.<\/p>\n And looking ahead to 2026, a number of social welfare changes are set to take effect.<\/p>\n Most weekly social welfare payments will increase by \u20ac10, with proportional increases for adult dependants and those on reduced rates.Child Support Payment weekly rates will rise by \u20ac8, from \u20ac50 to \u20ac58 for children under 12, and \u20ac62 to \u20ac78 for children 12 and over.Working Family Payment income limits will increase by \u20ac60 per week for all family sizes.Fuel Allowance will rise by \u20ac5 to \u20ac38 per week from January.Disability Allowance or Blind Pension recipients taking up employment will qualify for the Back to Work Family Dividend.Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by \u20ac20, from \u20ac360 to \u20ac380 per month.From March 2026, the Working Family Payment will become a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, backdated to January if conditions are met.<\/p>\n The Department has also shared festive opening hours for Intreo Centres, PPSN Centres and PSC Centres:<\/p>\n Open from 10am to 4pm every day, except Thursday, December 25, Friday, December 26 and Thursday, January 1.Normal phone line hours resume on Friday, January 2.Contact by phone: 0818 405 060 \/ 0818 607 080 (Community Welfare Services)Email: info@welfare.ie<\/p>\n Where a walk in Public Service Card Service operates, it will be available until 12pm on December 24. Walk in availability may be reduced for the rest of the Christmas period.<\/p>\n For those who need to apply for income supports, the quickest and easiest option is online via www.MyWelfare.ie.<\/p>\n