O’Sullivan welcomes Christmas Bonus payments

Padraig O’Sullivan TD For Cork North Central has welcomed confirmation that the Christmas Bonus will be paid to over 1.6 million people that are in receipt of social welfare supports this December.  

Deputy O’Sullivan commented “€390 million will be paid by way of Christmas bonus to support those in receipt of social welfare in the first week in December. This includes people in receipt of the old age pension, disability allowance, widows pensions, jobseekers allowance and carers allowance. Furthermore, anyone in receipt of PUP for 17 weeks or longer in 2020 will also receive this bonus payment. 

“90% of people who are currently on PUP payments will receive this Christmas bonus. This is to be welcomed. It is very important that those returning to work next week would not miss out.  

“It has been a very challenging year for many. There are many individuals and families who have lost their job or business as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and have been out of work for several months now. The Bonus will help to ease the financial burden on them around the Christmas period.  

“I would encourage all recipients to shop and spend local in Cork, supporting their local services and businesses. This will be a €390 million injection into the Irish economy at a time when many small businesses will be reopening their doors as restrictions are eased” concluded Deputy O’Sullivan