Social welfare once off bonus arriving early this weekIrish families will receive Child Benefit payments early on Friday 30 or Saturday 31 January, with the universal payments available regardless of employment statusView Image Close-up stock image of hands taking money out of a wallet (Image: Getty Images)Parents throughout Ireland are in for an unexpected windfall this week, as two universal social welfare payments – available even to those in full-time employment – are being delivered ahead of schedule. Any social welfare payments ordinarily scheduled for that day will be issued early, appearing in accounts either on Friday, 30 January, or Saturday, 31 January. For a single birth, parents will receive €420 – the usual €140 child benefit plus the €280 New Baby Grant. For twins, the total payment increases to €980, combining the child benefit for both children with two New Baby Grants. Both the child benefit and the New Baby Grant are universal social welfare payments, meaning they are issued irrespective of your employment status or income level.