Thousands of people on social welfare are set for an unexpected change this week that will see some payments arrive earlier than usual ahead of the October bank holiday.
A woman taking euro notes out of her purse(Image: Getty Images)
Thousands of social welfare recipients across Ireland are in for a pleasant surprise this week as a number of payments are set to arrive earlier than usual ahead of the October bank holiday.
The next public holiday falls on Monday, October 27, meaning many workplaces – including banks, post offices and Intreo centres – will all be closed for the day.
Because of this, anyone who usually receives their payment on a Monday will see it land early, either on Friday, October 24 or Saturday, October 25 – giving recipients a welcome cost of living boost before the long weekend.
The change will apply to a range of social welfare supports, however Child Benefit will not be affected because the bank holiday falls at the end of the month, and Child Benefit is typically paid on the first Tuesday, which will be November 4.
Child Benefit is a monthly payment of €140 to the parents or guardians of children under 16. You can also get Child Benefit for children aged 16, 17 and 18 if they are in full-time education or full-time training, or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
The social welfare payment schedule will return to normal on Tuesday, October 28 after the bank holiday weekend.
Here’s a reminder of the remaining bank holidays in Ireland for 2025:
- Monday, October 27 – October Bank Holiday
- Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Friday, December 26 – St Stephen’s Day
This early payment comes as part of a busy period for social welfare updates, following the Government’s recent Budget 2026 announcements. As part of the new measures, the Christmas Bonus will once again be paid in December 2025 to around 1.5 million long-term welfare recipients, worth the full 100% of their weekly payment.
As well as this, an across-the-board €10 increase in core social welfare payments will take effect from January 2026. The Carer’s Allowance income disregard is also set to rise, while the Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20, bringing it to €380 per month.
Families will benefit from the extension of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which will now include two and three year olds, and the Fuel Allowance scheme will be expanded to cover Working Family Payment recipients. The weekly Fuel Allowance rate will also rise from €33 to €38.
The Department of Social Protection has not yet confirmed an exact date for the Christmas Bonus, but based on previous years, it is expected to be paid during the week beginning Monday, December 1.
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