€390 million Christmas Bonus to be paid into people’s post office and bank accounts from today
- Published on: 8 December 2020
- Last updated on: 11 April 2025
1.6 million people receiving their Christmas Bonus this week
Over €83 million in Christmas Bonus payments being paid to 283,000 PUP recipients today
From today, the Department of Social Protection is paying €390 million in a Christmas Bonus to some 1.6 million people who are receiving long-term weekly welfare payments.
The 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid mainly to pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents.
One of the first groups to receive the Christmas Bonus are recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
Over 283,000 people who have been in receipt of a PUP payment - continuously or otherwise – for at least 4 months (17 weeks) since March were paid the Christmas Bonus this morning.
The total amount paid to PUP recipients today is €83.14 million.
The largest cohort of PUP recipients to receive the Christmas Bonus are aged between 25 and 34.
Some 92,266 recipients live in Dublin, followed by Cork (27,857), Galway (15,824), Kildare (12,226) and Kerry (11,377).
Commenting today, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said:
Overall this week, some €390 million is being paid out in the Christmas Bonus – the highest amount ever.
And this morning, the Christmas Bonus was paid into the post office and bank accounts of 283,000 who are in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
2020 has been a year like no other for so many people who lost their employment. It’s also been an extremely difficult year for businesses.
As we head towards the Christmas period, I would urge everyone to consider the impact the Pandemic has had and is continuing to have on small businesses.
I would therefore appeal to everyone who receives their Christmas Bonus today and this week, where possible, to shop local.
By shopping locally, you are supporting your local economy, your local community and your local small businesses.
Details of the Christmas Bonus payment made to PUP recipients today by County and by age profile follow – see Appendices 1 and 2.
ENDS
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Appendix 1 – Christmas Bonus paid to recipients of Pandemic Unemployment Payment – County Breakdown
| County | Number of PUP recipients receiving Christmas Bonus on 8th December | Amount of Christmas Bonus payment to PUP recipients on 8th December |
| Carlow | 3,028 | €880,481 |
| Cavan | 3,802 | €1,094,104 |
| Clare | 6,092 | €1,800,526 |
| Cork | 27,857 | €8,087,290 |
| Donegal | 10,389 | €2,974,255 |
| Dublin | 92,266 | €27,448,095 |
| Galway | 15,824 | €4,676,587 |
| Kerry | 11,377 | €3,400,739 |
| Kildare | 12,226 | €3,591,343 |
| Kilkenny | 4,434 | €1,300,398 |
| Laois | 3,678 | €1,074,376 |
| Leitrim | 1,727 | €490,981 |
| Limerick | 10,916 | €3,184,010 |
| Longford | 1,861 | €532,205 |
| Louth | 8,865 | €2,570,206 |
| Mayo | 7,661 | €2,235,792 |
| Meath | 10,630 | €3,122,255 |
| Monaghan | 3,262 | €932,926 |
| Offaly | 3,511 | €1,020,065 |
| Roscommon | 2,873 | €819,218 |
| Sligo | 3,537 | €1,019,516 |
| Tipperary | 7,561 | €2,184,138 |
| Waterford | 6,517 | €1,886,956 |
| Westmeath | 5,251 | €1,528,317 |
| Wexford | 8,488 | €2,493,874 |
| Wicklow | 8,628 | €2,522,116 |
| County not included | 860 | €264,267 |
| Total | 283,121 | €83,135,036 |
Appendix 2 – Christmas Bonus Paid to PUP recipients – Age Breakdown
| Age category | Number of PUP recipients receiving Christmas Bonus on 8th December | Amount of Christmas Bonus being paid to PUP recipients on 8th December |
| < 25 | 62,239 | €17,065,167 |
| 25-34 | 64,373 | €19,685,592 |
| 35-44 | 63,849 | €19,233,305 |
| 45-54 | 51,918 | €15,387,096 |
| 55+ | 40,742 | €11,763,876 |
| Total | 283,121 | €83,135,036 |