All of the groups entitled to the cost-of-living bonus revealed with one potential exclusion

Sophie Collins

The Budget announcement is fast approaching, and small pieces of information on what to expect are being revealed

The topic of conversation at the moment is the Christmas and the cost-of-living bonuses – but who will be entitled to them this year is still up for debate.

This initiative was also part of last year’s budget, with the double-week given out in January of this year.

Typically, those who receive the Christmas bonus will also benefit from the cost-of-living bonus.

However, according to the Irish Examiner, a senior Government source confirmed that those receiving Fuel Allowance could potentially be excluded from the double week, similar to what happened during the Christmas bonus and January’s double-week.

The payments that are eligible for the bonus are:

Back to Education Allowance – people coming from jobseeker’s payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use your time on your jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify.
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance – people coming from jobseeker’s payments need to be getting the Allowance for at least 12 months (312 days), but you may be able to use time on jobseeker’s payment to help you qualify
Back to Work Family Dividend
Benefit payment for 65 year olds
Blind Pension
Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit (including half-rate Carer’s Allowance)
Community Employment
Deserted Wife’s Allowance and Deserted Wife’s Benefit
Daily Expenses Allowance, formerly called Direct Provision Allowance for 12 months
Disability Allowance
Disablement Benefit
Domiciliary Care Allowance
Farm Assist
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
Illness Benefit for 12 months or more (will be paid between 5 December 2023 and 22 December 2023)
Invalidity Pension
Job Initiative Scheme
Jobseeker’s Allowance for 12 months (312 days or more)
Jobseeker’s Transitional payment
Magdalene Commission Scheme
Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
One-Parent Family Payment
Partial Capacity Benefit
Rural Social Scheme
State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory)
Supplementary Welfare Allowance for 12 months (364 days or more)
Tús
Widow, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory) and (Non-Contributory)
Work Placement Experience Programme (if your primary payment is a qualifying social welfare payment)

Although a pay date for the cost-of-living bonus is yet to be determined, last year it was given out on the day that recipients would receive their other regular payments.