There are always some adjustments to the payment dates of Social Welfare and State Pensions around Christmas because of the closure of banks and post offices.
These are the dates of the December Double Payment Week and the Social Welfare Christmas Payment Dates 2023.
Note – There will also be a further double bonus cost of living payment in January 2024 – see here for more details of the Cost of Living Payments
Social Welfare Payment Arrangements December 2023
- Banks will close as normal on Friday 22nd December 2023 and will not reopen until Thursday 28th December 2023.
- Post Offices will close at 1pm on Saturday 23rd December and will not reopen until Thursday 28th December 2023.
- Post Offices and Banks will also be closed on Monday 1st January 2024.
- There will be no mail delivery or collection from December 23rd to Dec 27th 2023.
The Christmas Bonus will be paid in the week commencing December 4th 2023 – see more about the Christmas Bonus Here.
Double Payment Week :
The dates given below have been confirmed by Social Welfare
- All welfare and state pension recipients that are paid weekly will receive their normal payment(s) and an advance payment during the week beginning Monday 18th December 2023.
- The advance payment will be in place of the payment due in the week beginning Monday 25th December 2023 and therefore there will be no regular weekly payments in that week.
- So any payments due between 25th and 29th December will be made in the previous week along with your normal payment for that week.
Changes to Payment Dates for Christmas 2023
The dates given below have been confirmed by Social Welfare
These are the other changes to welfare and state pension payment dates for Christmas 2023.
Weekly Payments to Post Offices and Banks
| Due Date | Actual Payment Date |
| Wednesday 20th December | No Change |
| Thursday 21st December | No Change |
| Friday 22nd December | No Change |
| Monday 25th December | Friday 22nd December |
| Monday, Jan 1st 2024 | Friday 29th December |
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Casual Jobseeker claimants are advised to return dockets early to ensure continuous payment over the Christmas period.
f you are claiming on a casual basis: where dockets have been provided in advance, two payments covering the signing weeks ending 19 and 26 December (Jobseeker’s Allowance), or 20 and 27 December (Jobseeker’s Benefit) will be paid into accounts on Friday, 22 December.
Monthly Payments to Banks and Post Offices
Welfare Benefits and Pension paid Calendar Monthly, are not expected to be affected.
Children’s Allowance / Child Benefit
The monthly Children’s allowance is due on Tuesday, January 2nd 2024. However – since Monday 1st Jan is a Bank Holiday it is very likely that it will be paid early. You might see it in bank accounts on Friday 29th December 2023.
NOTE; There will be a double payment of Child Benefit on Dec 5th. More on Child Benefit Payment Dates