Major social welfare payment date shake-up for EVERY cash boost in days as all banks & post offices to close

SOCIAL welfare recipients are being warned over a payment date shake-up hitting in only a few days.

All social welfare recipients are set to see their cash boost hitting accounts on a new date this month due to the bank holiday.

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As St Patrick’s Day falls on Monday, March 17, it’s another day of banks and post offices closing this year.

All Intreo centres and local branch offices will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday.

It is understood that all social welfare payments will instead be paid into accounts on either Friday, March 14 or Saturday, March 15.

Intreo centres and local branch offices will reopen on Tuesday, 18 March 2025.

As for each bank holiday, post offices and banks each close for the day meaning all payments are typically late or done in advance.

There are eight remaining bank holidays this year, with only two not falling on a Monday.

These are Christmas Day, a Thursday, and St Stephen’s Day, a Friday.

The rest include St Patrick’s Day, Easter Monday on April 21, May 5, June 2, August 4 and October 27.

Separately, there are a number of money changes hitting thousands of Irish people this month.

An Post have announced major price changes for Irish punters with the cost of stamps.

On February 27, the price of a national stamp rose from €1.40 to €1.65 for personal customers, and on March 1 for business users.

In a statement, An Post said this price increase is in line with global trends and still below the EU14 + UK benchmark of €1.88 for a next-day letter service.

VHI has also announced a major price hike as its yearly healthcare plans cost is set to rise by seven per cent.

VHI hiked its premiums twice in the past year – by 4.8 per cent in March and then again by seven per cent in October – after reducing prices by three per cent in 2022.

It is not all bad news as the Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit will kick in at the end of next month.

This payment will mean anyone who loses their job after March 31, 2025 will receive a social welfare amount based directly on their previous earnings.

The maximum weekly rate of the current Jobseeker’s payment is currently €244.

However, with the new payment the maximum rate will be just under double this at €450.

There are three different rates of payment for those who become fully unemployed after March 31.

A maximum of €450, or 60 per cent of your prior income, will be available for people who have made at least five years PRSI contributions and will be paid for the first three months.

A second rate of a maximum of €375, or 55 per cent of your prior income will be paid for the following three months.

And a third rate of a maximum of €300, or 50 per cent of your prior income will be paid out for the final three months.