Social assistance payments in Ireland

A social assistance payment provides financial support to people who do not have enough social insurance (PRSI contributions) to qualify for a social insurance payment. Your income must be below a certain amount to qualify for a social assistance payment.

For example, if you lose your job you might apply for a Jobseeker's payment.

But you do not qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit (a social insurance payment) because you do not have enough PRSI contributions, or your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit has expired. So, you apply for Jobseeker's Allowance (a social assistance payment), which is a similar payment but is not based on the number of PRSI contributions paid. Jobseeker’s Allowance is a means-tested payment so it is based on your income.

To get a social assistance payment you must be habitually resident in Ireland and you must pass a means test.

The rules governing social welfare assistance payments are set out in legislation and administrative guidelines. Most of the administrative guidelines are available on the Department of Social Protection (DSP) website.

In general, you cannot get two social assistance payments (except for Carer's Allowance which can be paid at a half rate with another social welfare payment). If you think you might qualify for more than one payment, you generally have to choose the one that is of most benefit to you.

There are a number of social assistance payments. You may qualify for one depending on your circumstances, for example:

Jobseeker's Allowance is paid to people aged 18 or over and unemployed.

One-Parent Family Payment is paid to parents who are bringing children up without the support of a partner.

Farm Assist is an income support scheme for farmers. You do not need to be available for work to qualify for Farm Assist.

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension is paid to widows, widowers and surviving civil partners who do not have dependent children.

Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) is paid to an orphan's guardian up to the orphan's 18th birthday or 22nd birthday if they are in full-time education.

Carer's Allowance is paid to people who are looking after someone who is in need of full-time care and attention because of age, physical or learning disability or illness (including mental illness).

Supplementary Welfare Allowance is paid to people that have low or no income.

State Pension (Non-Contributory) is paid to people when they reach 66 years of age.

Blind Pension is paid to blind and visually impaired people.

Disability Allowance is paid to people with a disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66.

If you qualify for a social assistance payment you may qualify for extra social welfare benefits.

For most social assistance payments, decisions about your entitlement are made by Deciding Officers. Deciding Officers are DSP officials appointed under the social welfare legislation to accept or reject claims for social welfare payments .

If you are not happy with a decision Deciding Officer, you have a right to appeal decisions in relation to payments that are based in legislation. Appeals are made to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, an independent statutory body. Find out how to appeal a social welfare decision.

Social welfare payments are divided into a payment for you (the claimant), known as the personal rate of payment, and a payment for any adult dependants and child dependants. The SW19 Rates of Payment booklet is published by the DSP every year. It sets out the current rates of payment for each scheme and the rates of payment for child and adult dependants.

To apply for a social welfare payment you can:

• Apply online at MyWelfare.ie (only for certain payments)
• Send a paper application form to the address printed on the form

You can get help and a paper application form from your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office or your local Citizens Information Centre. You can find all application forms on gov.ie. You can also call the DSP on 0818 405 060.