The Christmas Bonus is normally paid in one lump sum. However, if you are getting Illness Benefit, your Christmas Bonus may be paid over 2 weeks between Tuesday, 6 December 2022, and Friday, 23 December 2022.
You can now apply for the Fuel Allowance online. There are also new Fuel Allowance means tests for over 70s which take effect from 2 January 2023.
If you have a Local Authority Home Loan, interest rates increased on 10 December 2022.
From 1 January 2023, the income limits for local authority/social housing will increase by €5,000 for all local authority areas.
If you were eligible for a free HPV vaccine but you did not get it, you can book a HPV vaccine catch-up appointment online. This applies if you are:
- Female and aged 16 to 25, or
- Male aged 16 or older and you started your first year of secondary school (including homeschool and special schools) in September 2019
From Friday 9 December, GPs will no longer refer their patients to a PCR test centre for COVID-19 tests. If you are a vulnerable patient, your GP can test you for COVID-19 at their clinic. If you have a medical card or GP visit card, the test is free. If you are a private patient, you will have to pay €55.
If you cannot find an appropriate school for your child with special needs, new laws make additional provisions for your child. The Department of Education has published information for schools about providing for children with special education needs.
If you are doing an apprenticeship, you should check with your employer or local ETB if you are entitled to any allowances such as a tool allowance. You should also check if you qualify for employment tax credits and reliefs.
If you have changed gender and you want a name on your Gender Recognition Certificate that is different to the name on your birth certificate, you no longer need to show that you have used your name for 2 years or changed your name by a deed poll.
New European Union laws have come into effect and mean that sale prices must also show the prior price. The prior price is the lowest price the goods were on sale for in the 30 days before the sale.