December is always a very expensive time, with families forking over a small fortune on presents, food and even heating during the incredibly cold month in Ireland
December is right around the corner, marking the final month of the year.
While it can be a very festive time of year, it can also be a financial burden on my households around Ireland.
Thankfully, there is good news when it comes to money changes. Here is everything you need to know:
Fuel Allowance
Fuel Allowance season is nearly here, with it normally beginning in late September of each year and ending in April.
It is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. It is paid to only one person in a household.
The Fuel Allowance scheme consists of €33 per week for 28 weeks or it can be paid via two lump sum payments worth €924 in total.
Although the current season is underway, people can still apply and qualify after the start date, however, the payments won’t be backdated. But you will be entitled to future payments.
A spokesperson from the Department of Social Protection told RSVP Live: “The 2025/26 Fuel Allowance season will commence on week beginning Monday, 22 September 2025.”
You can find out more information about it here.
Christmas Bonus
The Christmas Bonus is a once-off double week payment for people getting a long-term social welfare payment – and it’s worth 100% of your weekly scheme.
You also don’t need to apply for the Bonus – if you qualify, you’ll automatically get it.
The Christmas Bonus will be paid in December to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment and it’s normally paid with your social welfare payment.
People who are getting the following payments will get the Christmas Bonus.
- Back to Education Allowance
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
- Back to Work Family Dividend
- Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment
- Blind Pension
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer’s Benefit
- Community Employment
- Daily Expenses Allowance
- Deserted Wife’s Allowance
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit
- Disability Allowance
- Disablement Benefit
- Domiciliary Care Allowance
- Farm Assist
- Guardian’s Payment
- Illness Benefit
- Invalidity Pension
- Job Initiative Scheme
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
- Magdalen Commission Scheme
- Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Partial Capacity Benefit
- Rural Social Scheme
- State Pension (Contributory)
- State Pension (Non-contributory)
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance (long-term)
- Tús (community work placement initiative)
- Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
- Bereaved Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Work Placement Experience Programme
You can find out more here.
Public Service Obligation levy
It’s expected that thousands of households will see a drop in the cost of their electricity in December.
The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is a mandatory charge on all electricity customers that funds government schemes supporting renewable and sustainable electricity generation.
Currently, the PSO levy is €2.01 per month (excluding VAT) for domestic customers and €7.77 for small commercial customers.
The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities just announced a new levy rate, which is expected to come into effect on 1 December 2025 and last until 30 September 2026.
The new rate for domestic customers is set to be €1.46 per month, whereas small commercial customers will get a monthly charge of €5.65.
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