The Council of Ministers has approved the granting of an extraordinary Christmas Allowance for 2025 to eligible recipients of social benefits. Approximately 65,000 families are expected to benefit, with the total expenditure exceeding €17 million.

According to an announcement by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, the Christmas Allowance will be distributed as follows:

• Recipients of the Guaranteed Minimum Income and Public Assistance will receive an amount equal to 80% of the family’s basic needs.

• Low-income pensioners will receive an amount equal to their December benefit, with a minimum payment of €100.

• Recipients of the Honorary Allowance for Mothers of Large Families will receive €100.

• Families receiving a Child Benefit for three or more children will receive €100 per family.

• Single-parent families receiving the Single-Parent Benefit will also receive €100 per family.

• Enclaved persons will receive an amount equal to their December 2025 benefit, as will children of enclaved and repatriated persons attending kindergarten, primary, and lower secondary schools in the occupied areas.

The Deputy Ministry stated that payments will be made on the following dates:

• December 12: Payment to Guaranteed Minimum Income recipients and public assistance beneficiaries.

• December 15: Payment to recipients of extraordinary public assistance.

• December 17: Payment to low-income pensioners, beneficiaries of child benefits for three or more children, single-parent benefit recipients, mothers of large families, and enclaved persons.

In view of the Christmas holidays, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, together with the Social Welfare Services, the Welfare Benefits Management Service, and the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, has arranged for the early disbursement of benefits and social allowances.

The early payments will be made as follows:

• December 10:
  Payment of the Child Benefit, the Single-Parent Benefit, and the monthly honorary grant to veterans and widows of World War II veterans.

• December 12:
  Payment of the Guaranteed Minimum Income and Monthly Public Assistance.

• December 15:
  Payment of the Extraordinary Public Assistance.

• December 16:
  Payment of the Low-Income Pensioners’ Support Scheme, the Honorary Allowance for Mothers of Large Families, the Severe Mobility Disability Allowance, the Care Allowance for Persons with Paraplegia or Quadriplegia, the Blind Persons’ Grant, and the Mobility Allowance.

• December 17:
  Payment of the Allowance for Enclaved and Repatriated Persons.