Social welfare recipients advised of payment date change next month due to schedule shake up

People receiving social welfare payments in Ireland are being urged to take note of revised payment dates due to the forthcoming St Patrick’s Day bank holiday.

St Patrick’s Day, observed on Tuesday, March 17 next month, is a public holiday, which means banks and post offices will be closed, reports The Mirror.

As a result, anyone due to receive a social welfare payment on March 17 is expected to be paid earlier than usual. Payments are anticipated to reach accounts a few days in advance, either on Friday, March 13 or Monday, March 16.

Because the holiday falls in the middle of the month, Child Benefit recipients will not be impacted, as Child Benefit is paid on the first Tuesday of each month — in this case, Tuesday, March 3, reports The Mirror.

The other bank holidays scheduled for 2026 are:

March 17 (St Patrick’s Day)
April 6 (Easter Monday), reports The Mirror.
May 4 (May bank holiday)
June 1 (June bank holiday), reports The Mirror.
August 3 (August bank holiday)
October 26 (October bank holiday), reports The Mirror.
December 25 (Christmas Day 2026)
December 26 (St Stephen’s Day 2026), reports The Mirror.

Separately, the Department of Social Protection has recently warned the public about scam texts and phone calls. It said on its website: “We are aware of fraudulent phone calls and text messages, claiming to be from the department, telling you that you are eligible for a discounted electricity bill.”

They caution, “If you receive such a call or text, please do not engage with the caller and do not share any part of your PPS number, Bank Account details or any other personal information with them. Do not click on any links they send you. DSP staff never ask for such details by phone or text. If you have shared any bank account details following a call that is suspected to be a scam, please contact your bank immediately. If you have provided any such information to a caller that you believe to be a scam call or scam text, please contact the Gardaí immediately.”

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