The Christmas welfare bonus is a national disgrace

Fred Cryton

The Christmas welfare bonus will cost €389 million this year. Pretty sure Ireland is unique in the entire western world in giving out such double welfare. Instead of rewarding work, effort and talent, we decide to reward those not working. Even if it didn't cost hundreds of millions, even if it was cheap, it's the principle of the matter. We are rewarding idleness. There's something very Irish about it.



Now we have hairdressers claiming they are "cheated out of" the €350 christmas bonus because shock horror, they are now working and not on welfare. Nauseating, child-like sense of entitlement.

Staplor

I like the idea. Only once I've received a Christmas bonus as generous as that. I personally have nothing to gain from it, Christmas is an expensive time of the year, and I enjoy how our society enjoys Christmas. This reduces a financial burden on some people.

pjohnson

A perfect way to start a new week, the latest welfare thread!

mr_edge_to_you

I lost my job earlier this year. First time since I started working at the age of 16 that I received any form of unemployment or jobseekers payment. I am very grateful for the PUP and I was very grateful for the bonus. I have a professional qualification which costs €400 a year. Normally my employer would pay it.
Its important to keep it current otherwise it could get messy. I was able to use my "bonus" to pay this. For many people, the bonus is a small amount which helps people at a tough time of the year financially. It just goes to pay another few bills.

For others it's just another hand out from the state that they're "entitled" too.

GarIT

Fred Cryton wrote: »

The Christmas welfare bonus will cost €389 million this year. Pretty sure Ireland is unique in the entire western world in giving out such double welfare. Instead of rewarding work, effort and talent, we decide to reward those not working. Even if it didn't cost hundreds of millions, even if it was cheap, it's the principle of the matter. We are rewarding idleness. There's something very Irish about it.



Now we have hairdressers claiming they are "cheated out of" the €350 christmas bonus because shock horror, they are now working and not on welfare. Nauseating, child-like sense of entitlement.

Where's my Christmas tax credit bonus?

It's put back into the economy which is particularly important this year.

Thread needs a sprinkling of SF and we have reprise number fifty. Your track record isn't flattering OP, the welfare bashing has been done to death.

biko

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/record-389-million-in-social-welfare-christmas-bonus-to-be-paid-next-week-1.4426538

A record €389 million will be paid out next week through the annual social welfare Christmas bonus,
and 311,000 people on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will receive the benefit, the Dáil has been told.

GarIT

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Thread needs a sprinkling of SF and we have reprise number fifty. Your track record isn't flattering OP, the welfare bashing has been done to death.

And yet we still have it.

endacl

The annual Boards advent calendar. The ‘Welfare Bonus’ thread. The ‘Stop Messing Around with Fairytale of New York’ thread...

Donald Trump

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

I lost my job earlier this year. First time since I started working at the age of 16 that I received any form of unemployment or jobseekers payment. I am very grateful for the PUP and I was very grateful for the bonus. I have a professional qualification which costs €400 a year. Normally my employer would pay it.
Its important to keep it current otherwise it could get messy. I was able to use my "bonus" to pay this. For many people, the bonus is a small amount which helps people at a tough time of the year financially. It just goes to pay another few bills.

For others it's just another hand out from the state that they're "entitled" too.

You should check with the organisation that you are paying for your certification. Many of those types or organisations would have reduced rates for those either not working or retired. If you went back to work and reactivated the full membership within the membership year you would probably have to pay the difference then

ednwireland

GarIT wrote: »

Where's my Christmas tax credit bonus?

actually a good idea !

the company i work for has been taken over twice this year and it looks like there's no Christmas bonus this year,

the old owner made sure we got a nice lump from the sale though (more than can be said from the second sale )

SEPT 23 1989

I wouldn't like to be depending on it this Christmas

would you?

Donald Trump

Deleted User wrote: »

It's put back into the economy which is particularly important this year.

It would be of far more value to the economy if it was earned doing work and then spent.

Tchaikovsky

Of all the "national disgraces", you should probably direct your ire at some more worthy causes, OP.

Morrisp

Fred Cryton wrote: »

The Christmas welfare bonus will cost €389 million this year. Pretty sure Ireland is unique in the entire western world in giving out such double welfare. Instead of rewarding work, effort and talent, we decide to reward those not working. Even if it didn't cost hundreds of millions, even if it was cheap, it's the principle of the matter. We are rewarding idleness. There's something very Irish about it.



Now we have hairdressers claiming they are "cheated out of" the €350 christmas bonus because shock horror, they are now working and not on welfare. Nauseating, child-like sense of entitlement.

So tell me Fred how’s life for you , employed Money for Christmas fine for you . I guess so , don’t be so bloody judgemental on others need help.

seamus

This is not the year to be whinging about people not working. Hundreds of thousands of people literally cannot.

partyguinness

Fred Cryton wrote: »

The Christmas welfare bonus will cost €389 million this year. Pretty sure Ireland is unique in the entire western world in giving out such double welfare. Instead of rewarding work, effort and talent, we decide to reward those not working. Even if it didn't cost hundreds of millions, even if it was cheap, it's the principle of the matter. We are rewarding idleness. There's something very Irish about it.

Now we have hairdressers claiming they are "cheated out of" the €350 christmas bonus because shock horror, they are now working and not on welfare. Nauseating, child-like sense of entitlement.

I hear what you are saying but the alternative is worse- end up like the UK where I now live. Over here they make it as humanly difficult as possible, food banks have escalated, the working poor is normal.

Thankfully I personally have never had to claim any sorts of benefits. In fact I do not even get children's allowance. As I earn X amount the whole lot is taken back.

But if I was down on my luck I know which country I would rather be living in and it aint the UK.

Morrisp

seamus wrote: »

This is not the year to be whinging about people not working. Hundreds of thousands of people literally cannot.

He seems to completely miss this point

Smee_Again

I'm lucky enough to have never received it and while I do sometimes think the dole is too high I have no issues with the bonus being paid, especially this year.

twin_beacon

Fred Cryton wrote: »

The Christmas welfare bonus will cost €389 million this year. Pretty sure Ireland is unique in the entire western world in giving out such double welfare. Instead of rewarding work, effort and talent, we decide to reward those not working. Even if it didn't cost hundreds of millions, even if it was cheap, it's the principle of the matter. We are rewarding idleness. There's something very Irish about it.



Now we have hairdressers claiming they are "cheated out of" the €350 christmas bonus because shock horror, they are now working and not on welfare. Nauseating, child-like sense of entitlement.

Then you require an Irish solution to your Irish problem, call Joe Duffy.

KaneToad

endacl wrote: »

The annual Boards advent calendar. The ‘Welfare Bonus’ thread. The ‘Stop Messing Around with Fairytale of New York’ thread...

And just before those...the wearing the poppy/James McClean thread...

partyguinness

but OP you need to remember that is £389m that will be spent locally. In some respects better than sitting in the bank.

dzsfah2xoynme9

The Tuam babies and the abuse cover up are a national disgrace...
Giving people a few extra bob for Christmas after the year we've had is not.
Hyperbole much?

I swear some Irish people are the most miserable, begrudging people around..

theballz

Friend of mine works in BT, she said they are expecting the busiest few days of the year this week with the welfare bonus.

Says it all.

fly_agaric

National Disgrace!

Talk to Joe. Do they take calls from Mr Scrooge at Christmas?

punisher5112

Don't forget one can rock up to st Vincent de Paul for food hamper and they can give money out too

weldoninhio

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

I lost my job earlier this year. First time since I started working at the age of 16 that I received any form of unemployment or jobseekers payment. I am very grateful for the PUP and I was very grateful for the bonus. I have a professional qualification which costs €400 a year. Normally my employer would pay it.
Its important to keep it current otherwise it could get messy. I was able to use my "bonus" to pay this. For many people, the bonus is a small amount which helps people at a tough time of the year financially. It just goes to pay another few bills.

For others it's just another hand out from the state that they're "entitled" too.

I would take PUP as different, as it is an unprecedented situation. But is it not normally for the long term unemployed?? So if you lost your job in October/November and went on the dole, you wouldn't qualify for it.

DellyBelly

partyguinness wrote: »

but OP you need to remember that is £389m that will be spent locally. In some respects better than sitting in the bank.

Exactly...pennys will do well with the sale of pj's etc...

Richard Hillman

I didn't get a Christmas bonus in work in the previous 4 years. This year I lost my job and was due to get thr dole bonus but I got a job the week before and ended up making less in that week than I would have with the dole bonus. Go figure.

Lucy8080

theballz wrote: »

Friend of mine works in BT, she said they are expecting the busiest few days of the year this week with the welfare bonus.

Says it all.

Will your friend or the cash-tills at B.T. refuse the money?

Signore Fancy Pants

No issue with welfare or the Christmas bonus for genuine people.

I do have an issue with able bodied people claiming it for more than 3 consecutive years. After 3 years it should cease. 3 years should be enough time to get a job.

There are people out there abusing the system. Im not talking about people who have a myriad of genuine issues. Im talking about the c.unts.

ElJeffe

When you know who the thread OP is just by reading the thread title :pac:

Dempo1

Another week commences with SW bashing.

So just for clarity.

Get the notion of €350 Bonus out of the picture. Not only did a vast majority not get this amount, they infact got far less. Anyone on PUP will actually understand this. Most got €250,some got €300, alot got €203 and a few the full amount of €350.

Secondly the amount is infact taxable

Finally but most importantly those on PUP probably worked for years, paying taxes like everyone else, indeed its likely most never, ever had to depend on a SW payment in their lives. Crucially the vast majority are on PUP because either their places of employment are shut due to covid restrictions or their jobs have been seriously impacted by the restrictions. There's also an enormous amount of self employed on PUP whose businesss essentially vanished as a result of Covid.

It's a typical disgrace to generalise SW payments and not for a moment try to understand the real and sincere hardship PUP Recipients have endured since last March.

As an important aside to PUP bonus, the OP might also want to understand, most SW Recepients are not unemployed, there's disibilty, carer's, widows etc in receipt of payments and indeed some also get the Bonus albeit nowhere near €350.

The OP is perhaps more offended by long term unemployment payments generally, that's an entirely seperate matter and I'm not going to get into that.

So a little context and objectivity sometimes helps, albeit there will also be narrow minded SW bashing hysteria no matter what the facts show.

Buddy Bubs

theballz wrote: »

Friend of mine works in BT, she said they are expecting the busiest few days of the year this week with the welfare bonus.

Says it all.

Its 11 days until Christmas and shops have been closed. That's why they'll be busy. Not because of double dole. Most people I know in good jobs earn double dole by Tuesday every week.

Car99

theballz wrote: »

Friend of mine works in BT, she said they are expecting the busiest few days of the year this week with the welfare bonus.

Says it all.

Your friend thinks the SW bonus is the reason for the few busiest days of the year in BT?

twin_beacon

theballz wrote: »

Friend of mine works in BT, she said they are expecting the busiest few days of the year this week with the welfare bonus.

Says it all.

No, the fact that we are under 2 weeks from Christmas says it all. Plenty of people get Christmas Bonuses from their jobs too.

Donald Trump

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

Its 11 days until Christmas and shops have been closed. That's why they'll be busy. Not because of double dole. Most people I know in good jobs earn double dole by Tuesday every week.

Underlined is the important part to some people.






Personally I don't really give that much of a shit to begrudge it. Fatuous arguments about them spending it locally are a bit annoying though

wes

Its a little bit extra at a time of year that people need it. Its been a **** year for everyone. A lot of people who have worked and paid into the system there whole lives have lost there jobs, and are unlikely to find a new one until this pandemic is over.

A little bit of extra money will mean a lot for them at Christmas and double so due to the year we have all had.

Gervais08

wes wrote: »

Its a little bit extra at a time of year that people need it. Its been a **** year for everyone. A lot of people who have worked and paid into the system there whole lives have lost there jobs, and are unlikely to find a new one until this pandemic is over.

A little bit of extra money will mean a lot for them at Christmas and double so due to the year we have all had.

Then it should go only to these and not the career welfare lifers.

suicide_circus

With borrowing and national debt at the current levels, the sw bonus is completely irrelevant.

Fred Cryton

Fred Cryton wrote: »

The Christmas welfare bonus will cost €389 million this year. Pretty sure Ireland is unique in the entire western world in giving out such double welfare. Instead of rewarding work, effort and talent, we decide to reward those not working. Even if it didn't cost hundreds of millions, even if it was cheap, it's the principle of the matter. We are rewarding idleness. There's something very Irish about it.



Now we have hairdressers claiming they are "cheated out of" the €350 christmas bonus because shock horror, they are now working and not on welfare. Nauseating, child-like sense of entitlement.

Wrong. But why let facts get in the way of a rant. Anyone who was on PUP for at least 4 months from March, even if they had returned to work with the lowering of the level on December 7th will receive the bonus.

quazzy1

The Christmas bonus was much appreciated for any of us who literally haven't been allowed to work for 9 months.

I'd much rather be working, but the bonus meant that I could actually afford to pay my rent this month

GarIT

theballz wrote: »

Friend of mine works in BT, she said they are expecting the busiest few days of the year this week with the welfare bonus.

Says it all.

Same in Ladbrokes

Gervais08

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Wrong. But why let facts get in the way of a rant. Anyone who was on PUP for at least 4 months from March, even if they had returned to work with the lowering of the level on December 7th will receive the bonus.

And so they should, they were all working and through no fault of their own could not. No issue there.

GarIT

If the money is needed it could be added to the weekly payment and spread out across the year. It shouldn't be given as a bonus. It's too much of a reward for people who don't manage their money.

super_furry

Sour, small, petty, jealous, bitter mindset.

3DataModem

It is a 53rd week - less than a 2% bump in the overall cost of the dole per annum.

Xmas is expensive for those on low / no incomes, so I like that they get it, and hope I never have to. Much more important things to be worrying about.

GarIT

3DataModem wrote: »

It is a 53rd week - less than a 2% bump in the overall cost of the dole per annum.

Xmas is expensive for those on low / no incomes, so I like that they get it, and hope I never have to. Much more important things to be worrying about.

We'll just increase the dole by 2% and let people save the extra if they want for Christmas.

The bonus encourages people to remain financially unaware and stay in their current situation longer.

partyguinness

GarIT wrote: »

If the money is needed it could be added to the weekly payment and spread out across the year. It shouldn't be given as a bonus. It's too much of a reward for people who don't manage their money.

Yeah but the thing is most benefit recipients are not able to manage their money because by and large they do not have any.

If for example you are a long term social welfare recipient then you are probably not the sharpest, poorly educated, go from one low paid insecure job to the next (when you do manage something) and generally live hand to mouth.

The rationale is a £390m boast to the local economy and retailers.

hurleronditch

theballz wrote: »

Friend of mine works in BT, she said they are expecting the busiest few days of the year this week with the welfare bonus.

Says it all.

Yep, a week before Christmas, shortly after all the shops reopened having been shut for 6 weeks, but it’s people living on meagre means buying designer handbags instead of buying a nice meal and some presents for their kids that’ll have BTs busy.

Deep socioeconomic analysis from the shop assistant in BTs. Next thing we’ll be taking investment advice from taxi drivers and sure the barber, the barber had Enda in the chair only last week and didn’t he say it’s all a hoax...