The Christmas Bonus 2026 is an extra payment of 100% of the weekly rate. It is paid in December 2026 to people on long-term social welfare payments. In its Budget 2027 press release, the Department of Social Protection says almost 1.4 million people will get it, with funding of €380 million.
When is it paid?
In December 2026. On 31 October 2026, the Department of Social Protection had not yet published the payment dates. We will add them to this page when it does.
How much is it?
The bonus is 100% of the weekly rate. The amounts below are worked out on the maximum personal rate only. If you also get an increase, for example for a qualified adult, for a child or the Living Alone Increase, ask the Department of Social Protection how your bonus is worked out.
Christmas Bonus 2026 at the maximum personal rate:
| Payment | Christmas Bonus 2026 |
|---|---|
| State Pension (Contributory), personal rate, under 80 | €299.30 |
| State Pension (Contributory), aged 80 and over | €309.30 |
| State Pension (Non-Contributory), maximum rate, 66 to 79 | €288.00 |
| Carer's Allowance, carer under 66 | €270.00 |
| Carer's Allowance, carer aged 66 and over | €308.00 |
| Carer's Benefit, personal rate | €271.00 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance, aged 25 and over (after 12 months on an eligible payment or scheme) | €254.00 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance, under 25 (after 12 months on an eligible payment or scheme) | €163.70 |
| Illness Benefit, maximum personal rate (after 12 months on an eligible payment or scheme) | €254.00 |
| Disability Allowance, maximum personal rate | €254.00 |
| Invalidity Pension, personal rate | €259.50 |
| Disablement Benefit, personal rate | €285.00 |
| One-Parent Family Payment, maximum rate | €254.00 |
| Guardian's Payment, each orphan | €237.00 |
| Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension, under 66 | €259.50 |
| Bereaved Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, maximum rate | €254.00 |
| Farm Assist, maximum personal rate | €254.00 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance, aged 25 and over (long-term only) | €252.00 |
Jobseeker's Benefit and Maternity / Paternity Benefit are not on the list of qualifying payments.
Who gets the Christmas Bonus 2026?
People getting one of these payments, according to the Department of Social Protection:
- Back to Education Allowance (after 12 months)
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
- Back to Work Family Dividend
- Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment
- Blind Pension
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer's Benefit
- Community Employment
- Daily Expenses Allowance (after 12 months)
- Deserted Wife's Allowance
- Deserted Wife's Benefit
- Disability Allowance
- Disablement Benefit
- Domiciliary Care Allowance
- Farm Assist
- Guardian's Payment
- Illness Benefit (after 12 months)
- Invalidity Pension
- Job Initiative Scheme
- Jobseeker's Allowance (after 12 months)
- Jobseeker's Transitional Payment
- Magdalen Commission Scheme
- Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Partial Capacity Benefit
- Rural Social Scheme
- State Pension (Contributory)
- State Pension (Non-Contributory)
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance (long-term)
- Tús (community work placement initiative)
- Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension
- Bereaved Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Work Placement Experience Programme (after 12 months)
For the payments marked "after 12 months", you must have been on an eligible social welfare payment or scheme for 12 months to get the bonus.