NO XMAS BONUS FOR OAPS
‘Scrooge’ Minister Regina blasted over welfare payment blow
SOCIAL Protection Minister Regina Doherty has been branded a “Scrooge” after scrapping the Christmas bonus for pensioners and welfare claimants.
The Fine Gael TD came under fire ahead of today’s announcement that will hit more than one million people hard in the pocket.
Senator Ged Nash said: “This payment is crucial to take some pressure off some of the lowest income
households in Ireland. It must be fully restored and become what it used to be – a double payment to help lighten the load at Christmas time.
“I am appealing to Fine Gael not to act like Scrooge and to commit now to paying the full Christmas bonus this year.
“Last year, it was set at 85% of the weekly rate and was paid to 1.2 million citizens.”
The improving economy will see taxes cut in next month’s Budget, but the most vulnerable are now set to miss out on the extra cash in December.
Ms Doherty may yet cave in to what will amount to massive public pressure to reverse the penny-pinching move.
But in her speech to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection this morning she will state the payment is being axed.
The Irish Mirror has seen her presentation, which reads: “There is currently no provision for a Christmas bonus in the Department’s allocation for 2018.”
She will then attempt to backtrack by saying she would still like to pay it. The presentation continues: “However, in the past four years, the Government was ultimately in a position to pay the bonus given the continuing improvement in the financial position.
“I will continue to monitor the financial position and consult with my colleagues and I am hopeful we will be in a position to pay a Christmas bonus again this year.”
But sources reckon this may be a tactic to prompt Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to come up with the money.
The bonus was initially cancelled by the Fianna Fail-led government during the depths of the recession in 2009.
It was then partially reintroduced by then Social Protection Minister Joan Burton in 2014.
The money is lodged into the accounts of 1.2 million eligible people generally in the first week of December.
For Jobseeker’s Allowance or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance, you must be getting the payment for 15 months to receive a Christmas Bonus.
It is also paid to certain people getting a Further Education and Training training allowance.