Tens of thousands of benefits recipients will have their payments delayed this week because of the national strike.

The one-day action by public sector workers on Tuesday will shut down all social welfare offices around the country.

Around 35,000 people expecting maternity, illness, jobseekers and supplementary welfare payments into their bank on Wednesday will not be paid until one day later.

Another 20,000 who receive cheques for the same benefits will also be affected, said a Department of Social and Family Affairs spokeswoman.

"The loss of a full day's processing time for a system as large as the Department of Social and Family Affairs will regrettably mean that some 55,000 customers who are in receipt of a weekly payment by cheque or directly to their financial institution on Wednesday will be delayed by one day," she said.

Those in receipt of disability allowance who are due to collect their payment on Wednesday should not be affected, according to the spokeswoman.

Claimants paid by a social services card through their post office are also not expected to be affected.

Meanwhile, business leaders Ibec claimed the strike would see those with the most secure jobs and pensions adding to the burdens of the country.

Brendan McGinty, the organisations director of industrial relations, said it was not fair for public sector workers to disrupt the lives and businesses of everybody else.

"It would be better to direct this energy towards developing a plan to protect jobs and get Ireland working again," he said. "The real casualties of the economic downturn are the many thousands who have lost their jobs."