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Thousands of welfare recipients will have the option to collect their payments weekly instead of every fortnight from today.
Weekly welfare payments were changed to a biweekly schedule effective March 23 due to the Covid pandemic.
The Department moved a series of payments to a weekly payment schedule in August, including the Single Parent Payment, the Working Family Payment, the Sickness Benefit, the Job Search Allowance and the Job Search Allowance.
Those with the remaining payments will be paid again each week beginning with the week beginning November 2.
However, everyone has the option of waiting up to 90 days to collect their welfare.
Minister Humphreys said: “My Department introduced the two-week payment schedule to better manage the passage at post offices and banks and promote social distancing. This allowed for greater adherence to public health guidelines around Covid -19.
“I would like to assure these clients who will be returning to the weekly payment schedule beginning in early November that they will still have the option to collect their payment at their post office for up to 90 days. Some clients prefer to manage their finances on a weekly basis rather than bi-weekly and I fully appreciate it, there may be other people who prefer to collect their welfare payment every fortnight and I want to give them that option.
“After recent discussions with representatives from the Irish Postmasters Union and Debbie Byrne from An Post Retail, I am very pleased to arrange for the post office welfare payments program to be available to customers on a weekly basis. In addition to giving them options, this action will support local businesses, our post offices and local communities. “
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