Double lump sum January bonus payment to be issued to 1.3million people this week

SOCIAL Protection Minister Heather Humphreys will announce the first ever January welfare bonus today.

Over of the course of this week, a double lump sum payment will be issued to 1.3 million people to help them cope with the cost of living crisis.

The January bonus is the ninth lump sum payment secured by Ms Humphreys under Budget 2024.

It will be paid on the same basis as the Christmas Bonus and will include the core weekly rate increases that came into effect at the start of the year.

Ms Humphreys said: ‘Over the past two and a half years, this Government has rolled out unprecedented financial supports to help families and households to deal with the cost of living.

‘And I’m pleased that this week, those supports will continue through the January bonus.

‘This will see a double lump sum weekly payment being made to support 1.3 million people – the likes of our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and low-income families.

‘This is about putting more money back into your pocket and recognising that families continue to feel the pinch, particularly after the Christmas period.’

A spokesman for the Department said: ‘The Social Protection package in Budget 2024 was the largest in the history of the State and assisted pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, and families with the cost of living through a mix of lump sum supports and increases to weekly payments.

‘In addition to this series of lump-sum payments, Ms Humphreys also secured across-the-board welfare increases of €12 per week from January 2024, and a range of targeted measures to take effect throughout 2024.’

One source said: ‘Government TDs and senators will be very busy on Facebook and TikTok listing out all those increases… not of course that it is an election year.’