People of Mayo to receive Christmas bonus double payment next week

Payment details for the Christmas Bonus for next week have been outlined by Mayo Deputy Alan Dillon.

“The payment will be made to pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, widows, and lone parents in Mayo and 1.3 million people nationwide will benefit,” he explained.

“The Christmas Bonus payments are in addition to the seven lump sum payments that have already been made to support households with the cost of living over the last six weeks.

"The combined cost of all eight lump sum payments is over €1.2 billion.

“As part of this year’s Budget discussions, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys secured €300 million to make this double payment.

"This year, the Christmas Bonus will be extended to long-term recipients of Illness Benefit for the first time.

“I welcome this news and am pleased it will provide some assistance to those who have worked for long periods, paying PRSI, but who have had to stop working for a period due to serious illness or perhaps long-lasting health conditions.

"Those in receipt of the Illness Benefit for 12 months or longer will now also receive this payment.

“With that in mind, I’d also like to encourage people to reach out to support their local businesses in Mayo this year.

"It’s always good to support our own and I know from discussions with local traders that every transaction makes a difference and benefits the entire local economy."