Spend wisely!  Double benefits in December, but none in January.

It is a custom for Social Welfare Services to pay Social Welfare benefits early at Christmas and Easter time. What does this mean for your wallet? 

If you receive cheques from the Social Welfare office at Christmas and Easter time, you will receive two cheques.  It can feel like a present, but it is not.

At Christmas time it works like this. At the beginning of December, you will receive a cheque with your November benefits as usual. Towards the end of December,  you will receive a cheque with your December benefits (this is earlier than usual). Your January benefits will be sent to you in February. 

This means that you will not be receiving a cheque in January. The second cheque you receive in December is not a bonus or a Christmas gift 🙁, it is your usual monthly benefit just paid to you earlier.

Celebrate wisely, don’t spend it all!

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