Changes that can affect your social welfare payment

If you are getting a social welfare payment and your personal circumstances change you must contact the Department of Social Protection (DSP). A change in your circumstances can mean you get an increase or a decrease in your social welfare payment. You could even be entitled to an extra or different social welfare payment.

Contacting the DSP will mean you get your increase faster or avoid having to repay overpayments.

A change in your personal circumstances may mean you qualify for a social welfare payment for the first time. For example, if you were working and recently lost your job, you may be entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance. If you are in private rented accommodation, you may also qualify for Rent Supplement. Read more about losing your job.

Sometimes, there can be a change in your personal circumstances but you don't qualify for a social welfare payment. In this case, you may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance. For example, if you are out of work sick, but you don't qualify for statutory sick pay or Illness Benefit, you may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

You can also read more about Rent Supplement and changes to your circumstances.

Qualifying for additional social welfare payments

A change in your personal circumstances may mean you qualify for an additional social welfare payment. For example, if you are getting a One-Parent Family Payment and get a job for at least 19 hours a week, you may also be able to claim Working Family Payment (WFP).

Qualifying for a different social welfare payment

A change in your circumstances may mean you no longer qualify for the payment you are currently getting, but qualify for a different payment. In some cases, you may be financially better off on the different payment. For example, Domiciliary Care Allowance is no longer paid when the person being cared for reaches 16 years of age. However, the person with the disability can apply for Disability Allowance, which is paid at a higher rate than Domiciliary Care Allowance.

Qualifying for extra payments

Some extra payments, such as the Fuel Allowance, the Living Alone Allowance or the Household Benefits Package require you to either live alone or with certain qualified people. If you do not qualify because of this rule and your circumstances change, you should contact the DSP.

You may also lose the payment if an 'unqualified' person comes to live with you.

Qualifying for a reduced social welfare payment

If you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant take up employment or get income or capital from any other source, it may reduce your payment.

If you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant save a portion of your State Pension (Non-Contributory) each week, these savings will be taken into account as means. It is important to notify the DSP of these savings to avoid an overpayment.

No longer qualify for a social welfare payment

A change in your circumstances may mean you no longer qualify for a social welfare payment. For example, you are not entitled to Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension if you remarry or cohabit with someone else.

It is a criminal offence to claim a social welfare payment if you know you are not entitled to it. You can be prosecuted for claiming a social welfare payment that you are no longer entitled to.

Automatic changes to your social welfare payment

In some cases, the DSP will automatically change your social welfare payment to reflect changes in your personal circumstances. For example, if you are getting a social welfare payment, you will automatically get an increase in your payment when you are 80 years old. However, in most other cases, you must contact the DSP when your circumstances change.

Qualifying for more than one payment

In some circumstances, you can keep your personal payment and get half of another social welfare payment. However, in most cases, if you qualify for more than one payment you will have to choose the payment that is of most benefit to you. For example, though you may qualify for Illness Benefit it may be of greater benefit for you to claim Disability Allowance because of the additional benefits, such as Fuel Allowance, the Living Alone Increase and the Household Benefits Package. 

You can get help and advice on which social welfare payment you qualify for and which is of most benefit to you from your Intreo centre or social welfare local office and your local Citizens Information Service.