Christmas bonus for welfare recipients not only restored but increased

Anyone know with any certainty are we the only country to reward the unemployed for being unemployed at Christmas? 
Genuine question.

I have an issue with this. Anybody on Job seekers for more than 12 months who has not availed of the opportunities available to them.tonseek employment or up skill should not be rewarded.

Disability, blind, carers, BTEA or any simaler payments should be given a triple payment before Christmas..

This is not a dole bashing post I have availed of it myself during the recession but the amount of opportunities available to retrain and up skill free of charge is one thing successive governments in this country have done right. If you are unemployed and able to work and not taking these opportunities with both hands then something needs to be done.

...It's a Christmas bonus FFS...Thankfully I've worked ever year around this time bar one, and the one year I was unable to work I was absolutely delighted that I had an extra bit of money to buy some presents, have a good night out with my family and friends and not have to hide 10 euro in my sock for my taxi home...I have seen people when it comes to Xmas worry and stress so so much because of money to buy others presents or have some nice decorations so other people don't know they are struggling...I honestly feel the whole system needs to be reviewed because alot of people abuse the system, but giving 53 weeks welfare instead of 52 per year is not gonna break the country, and if it is then we've bigger fecking problems to worry about...

weldoninhio wrote: »

Don’t wanna worry about the cost of Xmas?? Get a f’king job!!

Some people have to buy presents for friends and family (obviously not you). So increased costs compared to a normal month. Hence a bonus.

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

If some wa*ker wants to live his or her life on the dole then so be it.... but I do not care about other people

Well thank god we live in a world where most people care about other people especially hard working people who are suffing because a minority abuse the system, it's the principle of wasting money and not the amount. Nobody should be able to prefer to be on the dole, the option of dole for life should not be there unless you have a disability

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

People are still going to get taxed a hilt even if there wasn't social welfare tomorrow.

Given that welfare and pensions make up the vast majority of government spend I’m not sure your statement stands up to scrutiny.

pjohnson wrote: »

Some people have to buy presents for friends and family (obviously not you). So increased costs compared to a normal month. Hence a bonus.

We all have increased costs at this time of year. Many people have to put in extra hours at work. or make sacrifices to other parts of their family budget so it’s a bit sickening to see extra money handed out for nothing to people who never contribute.

I’m not saying it’s right or wrong. Just is what it is. You can’t keep taxing one section of society into oblivion while freely giving that money away to another section and not expect some ill feelings about it.

The poor people on illness benefit get no bonas

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

It's not always that easy, and then there are those who cannot work.

I was in two minds about the extra payment but really, I don't care. There are those who abuse the system, don't want to work or are working for cash etc., but then there are those who are genuinely down on their luck, I don't begrudge them this extra payment. I'd be devastated if I couldn't provide a few presents for my little fella.

The problem is that a lot of the ones down on their luck are probably the ones on jobseekers less than 12 months and therefore they won't get it. Most on the dole longer than 12 months are long-term unemployed with no real inclination of bothering to get a job.

Seriously, what does it say about our welfare that you are actually rewarded for being on the dole longer here?

Idbatterim wrote: »

I think after fg made a balls up of their last election slogan “a recovery for all” they are now so paranoid , they think of everyone doesn’t benefit every budget, they will be attacked from all Angles. As if fg would ever get the welfare class vote. Spineless bastards, at least I have renua to vote for, fg aren’t getting my vote, housing situation out of control, bleeding people dry and then they literally are throwing a few cent a week back to workers!

Spending v tax cuts was meant to be 2-1 as agreed with ff , it’s now less than ten to one!

Jsa and jsb bring hiked, in the face of minuscule to the point of nearly irrelevant usc cuts , is a disgrace! And ff didn’t insist on it low and behold, looks like this is fg doing!

Perfect then seems Renua is just what you guys need. Don't even need to start a new party.