Social welfare Ireland: Recipients warned of payment shake-up due to upcoming bank holiday clash
A change to the usual social welfare payment dates is on the horizon
Social welfare recipients are being urged to take note of a shake up to the payment schedule due to the upcoming February bank holiday.
The second bank holiday of the year arrives on Monday, February 3, with the majority of the country to receive a day off work thanks to St Brigid’s Day.
As banks and post offices will be shut, anyone expecting to receive a social welfare payment on that day will instead be paid early, so you could see your money land into your account on either Friday, January 31 or Saturday, February 1.
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Due to the bank holiday, those who are in receipt of Child Benefit will also most likely receive their payment early, on either that Friday or Saturday. This is to ensure that no one receives a late payment as a result of the banks being closed, RSVP report.
Payment schedules will return to normal from Tuesday, February 4, the Government confirmed, when all Intreo centres and branch offices reopen after the day off.
The introduction of St Brigid’s Day last year brought the total number of public holiday days to ten, a full list of which can be found below.
- Wednesday, January 1 - New Year's Day
- Monday, February 3 - St Brigid's Day
- Monday, March 17 - Saint Patrick's Day
- Monday, April 21 - Easter Monday
- Monday, May 5 - May Day
- Monday, June 2 - June Bank Holiday
- Monday, August 4 - August Bank Holiday
- Monday, October 27 - October Bank Holiday
- Thursday, December 25 - Christmas Day
- Friday, December 26 - St Stephen's Day
Meanwhile the Department of Social Protection are set to roll out a brand new social welfare grant for parents starting this month.
Introduced as part of Budget 2025, the New Baby Grant of €280 will be paid in addition to the first month of Child Benefit for:
- Children born on or after 1 December 2024
- An adopted child placed in your care on or after 1 December 2024
The grant is paid alongside the child's first Child Benefit payment of €140, meaning that altogether parents will receive €420 in respect of their new baby.
The new grant is automatically paid in respect of any newborn baby who has been registered to receive Child Benefit.
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