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BUDGET 2015: TOWARDS SHARED PROSPERITY
Alan Kelly TD CHRISTMAS BONUS UPDATE Dear Resident, People and communities around the country are beginning to feel the benefit of the economic recovery. Labour is determined to ensure that these benefits are felt by every household and, in particular, by families, older people and vulnerable individuals. The first phase of the recovery is complete, the economy is growing and there is significant job creation. This has allowed us under Budget 2015 to move to the second phase of the recovery – to begin to restore living standards for households across the country through a package of tax relief for low and middle income earners, investment in housing, education and health and a number of targeted increases in key social supports. Christmas can be an expensive time for families and households. For this reason, we have secured under Budget 2015 a bonus of 25% for all long-term welfare recipients including pensioners and carers. The Christmas Bonus is being paid in the first two weeks of December and will help support over 1.16 million people. Regards,
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Who will qualify for the 25% Christmas Bonus? Around 1.16 million people who are on a long term social welfare payment will benefit including those on: ■ State Pension
■ Disability Allowance
■ Invalidity and Widow(er)’s Pensions
■ Long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance
■ Guardian’s Payments
■ Domicillary Care Allowance
■ One-Parent Family Payment
■ Employment Support Payments – eg Back to Work Allowance
■ Deserted Wife’s Benefit
■ Employment programmes – Community Employment, Job Initiative, Rural Social Scheme, Tus, Gateway
■ Carer’s Allowance/Benefit ■ Blind Pension
■ Jobbridge and Back to Education Allowance (15 months unemployed)
■ Farm Assist
How will the 25% Christmas Bonus help my family? EXAMPLE 1
EXAMPLE 2
EXAMPLE 3
EXAMPLE 4
A couple who are both Pensioners with one in receipt of the contributory State Pension and the other in receipt of the non-contributory State Pension will receive a €112.33 Christmas Bonus.
A couple with two children where one partner is on Jobseeker's Allowance with a Qualified Adult Rate for their partner will receive a €93.10 Christmas Bonus.
A person with two children who is in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment will receive a €61.90 Christmas Bonus.
A Carer under the age of 66 with two children will receive a €65.90 Christmas Bonus.
Working with Cllr Fiona Bonfield
Alan Kelly TD Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government @alankellylabour /alankellylabour
Constituency Office: No. 1 Summerhill, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary Tel: 067 34190 Fax: 067 34011 Mobile: 086 7737724 Email: office@alankelly.ie Website: www.alankelly.ie
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87 Mulkear View Newport, Co. Tipperary 086 1670863 fionabonfieldlabour@gmail.com