Social Welfare

 


The Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) is responsible for the social welfare system. Details of different services & contact details for local offices can be found on www.welfare.ie

The Social Welfare system in Ireland has two schemes:


Social Insurance (Contributory)
This is available to those who have paid a specific number of social insurance contributions, i.e. PRSI ("Pay Related Social Insurance"). The different payments usually have the term 'benefit' in the title.

If you are an EEA national, social security contributions paid in EU countries including new accession states can be used for benefit claims. You can collect special forms (E104 and E301) from your country before leaving, which will make it easier to make claims in Ireland. For more information see Department of Social Protection

If you are a non - EEA national you must have a valid immigration status in order to be eligible for a social welfare payment. If you are an employment permit holder and you terminated your employment involuntarily you may be eligible for contribution based payments if you have paid sufficient PRSI contributions. You will receive the payment as long as your immigration status is still valid.


Social Assistance (Non-Contributory)
This is paid on the basis of having a low income and is means tested (i.e. your income must be below a certain level). Social assistance payments are payments for people who do not have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions to qualify for the equivalent social insurance-based payments.


Habitual Residence Condition
Habitual residence is a condition which you must satisfy in order to qualify for some social welfare assistance payments. It was introduced on 1st May 2004 and affects all applicants regardless of nationality. To demonstrate that you are 'habitually resident' in Ireland, you must you have a proven close link to Ireland or other parts of the Common Travel area. The Common Travel area is Ireland, Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

 

There are 5 factors that are considered:

  • Your residence in Ireland or the Common Travel area
  • Your reasons for leaving Ireland or the Common Travel area
  • Your employment record in Ireland and abroad
  • Your main centre of interest (that is, do you have close family or friends, a home or a job in Ireland?)
  • Your future intention to remain in Ireland (Have you arranged a job, bought a house or signed a rental agreement?)


For a full list of payments that you can only qualify if you are habitually resident in Ireland go to Department of Social Protection

If you are a non - EEA national you must have a valid immigration status in order to be eligible for a social assistance payment. If you are an employment permit holder and become unemployed and you don't have enough PRSI contributions, you will have to pass the Habitual Residence Condition in order to qualify for a social assistance payment. You will receive the payment as long as your immigration status is still valid.

If you do not satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition you may qualify for a payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.


Social Welfare Allowance
You may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you are not entitled to any other social welfare payment and you do not have enough money to take care of yourself. You must pass a means test (i.e. your income must be below a certain level) and must have an employment history in Ireland.

You are entitled to apply for Social Welfare Allowance if:

  • You have applied for other social welfare payments but you are refused
  • You only qualify for a reduced rate social welfare payment and you do not have any other source of income
  • You are awaiting a decision on a social welfare payment (You will have to repay the money if you get the social welfare payment)
  • You are appealing a decision to grant you a social welfare payment
  • You have started work but are awaiting your wages (you will have to repay this money).

There are 3 main categories of payment:

  • Basic - "Weekly or Living Money".
  • Supplements - "add-on" to basic payment.
    Following Basic payment, the following supplements may be awarded to cover certain recurring expenses, depending on individual circumstances and subject to verification:
  • Travel e.g. travelling to a clinic
  • Diet e.g. coeliac
  • Access e.g. visiting sons/daughters


Exceptional Need Payments (ENPs)
You do not have to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition for this. The payment is subject to identify verification. This is a once off payment towards unforeseen expenses that cannot reasonably be met from within weekly income such as: Clothing, Travel Expenses (to clinic), and Rent Deposits etc.

If you are a Non - EEA national you have to satisfy the habitual residence condition in order to qualify to the social welfare allowance.

If you are an EEA national and you were employed for a period of less than 12 months and become involuntarily unemployed you have a right to receive Supplementary Welfare Allowance for a period of six months from the date you finished work.

If you are an EEA national and you were employed in Ireland for a period more than 12 months and become involuntarily unemployed you have a right to receive Supplementary Welfare Allowance as long as you are actively seeking work.

The Community Welfare Officer, who administers the payment through the local Health Centres, decides whether the work you did can be considered as 'effective and genuine work'. Eg, an EEA national who shows s/he has been working for 3 hours per day, five days a week for the last 3 months could be considered to have "genuine and effective" work. There is no clear definition of "genuine and effective employment" but an example given in the original DSFA circular states that "an EEA national who shows s/he has been working for 3 hours per day, five days a week for the last 3 months, and could be considered to have effective and genuine work".

For more information on social welfare allowance and these payments and how to apply see Department of Social Protection or Living in Ireland


Social Welfare Appeal
If you disagree with the decision of the Deciding Officer of the Social Welfare Services concerning your entitlements, you have the right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Appeals Office operates independently of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare statutory entitlements. It also deals with appeals by persons dissatisfied with certain decisions made by Health Boards in relation to Supplementary Welfare Allowance. If you are unhappy with a decision you can contact the Appeals Office on:
LoCall 1890 74 74 34


Homelessness
Homeless services for migrant workers are dependent on their immigration status. Therefore a range of options, albeit limited, are open to people. For more information on this contact MRCI or the organisation listed below.

If you are homeless you should contact your local authority or call the freephone number 1800 724 724 (in Dublin only, from 10am - 1am seven days a week all year round) for advice and information on accessing emergency accommodation. For more information on different homeless services in Dublin see Crosscare Map of Homeless Services http://www.centrecare.ie/

Asylum Seekers and New Communities: Unit Homeless Person Unit Dublin (ASCNU) is the unit responsible for the delivery of a range of welfare services to homeless non-Irish persons within the Dublin area. ASCNU contact details are:

Homeless Persons Unit
77 Gardiner Street
Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 858 5100
Opening hours: 10am - 11.30am & 2pm - 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The ASNCU remit includes:
• Assessment of homeless status and placement into appropriate emergency accommodation on behalf of the local authorities
• Identifying and facilitating move-on options
• Ensuring payment of state entitlements and access to medical services


Useful Contacts

Crosscare Housing & Welfare Information
Telephone: 1-8726775 01-8726775
E-mail: housingandwelfare@crosscare.ie
Website: www.crosscare.ie

Simon Communities of Ireland
28/30 Exchequer Street
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01 6711606 01 6711606
Website: www.simon.ie

Focus Ireland
9/12 High Street
Christchurch
Dublin 8
Telephone: 01 8815900 01 8815900
Website: www.focusireland.ie

Respond
Telephone: 0818 357901
Email: info@respond.ie
Website: www.respond.ie

Treshold
21 Stoneybatter
Dublin 7
www.threshold.ie


This information has been prepared by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland for information purposes only, with no guarantee as to accuracy or applicability to a particular set of circumstances. It is not intended as, and should not be considered to be, legal advice. The information may change from time-to-time and may be out of date. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland disclaims any legal responsibility for the content or the accuracy of the information provided.