The Department of Social Protection has confirmed changes to the usual payment dates
07:40, 11 Dec 2025
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The Department of Social Protection has confirmed new dates for social welfare recipients to note ahead of Christmas and New Year’s, as certain payment dates will be adjusted over the festive period. Banks and post offices will be closed for several days around the Christmas season, so the payment schedule will be adjusted accordingly.
Due to the closures, some social welfare recipients who are due to get paid during Christmas week will receive payments early, RSVP reports. Generally, social welfare recipients receive a double payment the week before Christmas to account for the fact that banks and post offices will be closed the following week. You may have already received your double payment, as the Christmas bonus payout period begins the first week of December for some social welfare recipients.
There will be another change for January 1st, as banks and post offices are also closed on New Year’s Day. Some recipients will get their usual payment, and a second advanced payment ahead of the New Year’s period. The Department of Social Protection have confirmed: “If you receive a weekly social welfare payment, you will get your payment as usual during the week commencing Monday 15 December, and an advanced payment for the following week. This applies to payments made at post offices, by cheque or directly into your financial institution account.”
If you are receiving a jobseeker’s casual or part-time payment, you must provide dockets in advance, as advised, to ensure your payment continues uninterrupted over the Christmas period. If you are getting income support from the Department of Social Protection you should let us know of your absence in advance of travel, you can do this by visiting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office.
They have also shared the details of the opening hours and contact details for Intreo Centres, PPSN Centres and PSC Centres over the festive period. You can contact them on the numbers below from 10am-4pm every day except for Thursday 25 December, Friday 26 December and Thursday 1 January. Normal phoneline hours will resume on Friday, 2 January.
- By phone at: 0818 405 060 0818 607 080 (Community Welfare Services)
- By e-mail at: info@welfare.ie Where a walk-in Public Service Card Service is in operation, this service will be available until 12:00 p.m. on 24 December. Walk-in availability may be reduced over the remainder of the Christmas period.
- The quickest and easiest way to apply for income supports is online at: www.MyWelfare.ie
