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Irish Mirror

National

Sophie Collins

Five lesser known social welfare payments you could start claiming today amid cost of living crisis

Ireland

Ireland's cost of living crisis in Ireland continues to mount pressure on families nationwide.

Some respite was announced in Budget 2023, with changes to social welfare and other government schemes being seen.

Despite this, everything from the cost of filling the fridge to paying monthly bills is on the rise and doesn’t show signs of slowing down.

Although there are no short-term fixes to the issue, there are a number of social welfare payments that can help ease the burden - and some are lesser known than others.

Everyone knows about the usual child benefit, rent, and fuel allowance, but here are some additional payments that could make a difference to your weekly finances - and available to a huge percentage of the population.

Living Alone Increase

The Living Alone increase is a payment for those on social welfare who are also living alone. The current weekly rate is €22.

If you are 66 years or over and live alone, you will qualify if you are getting one of the following payments: State Pension (contributory/non-contributory), incapacity benefit, widows, widowers or civil partners payment.

The full list can be found here.

Exceptional Needs Payment

The Exceptional Needs Payment is a one-off payment to help pay for items that the applicant could not be expected to reasonably afford out of his or her weekly income. This includes "bedding or cooking utensils for someone setting up a home for the first time, visiting relatives in hospital or prison, funeral costs or for clothing in exceptional circumstances."

The payment can also help with electricity and heating bills while working from home.

You may be eligible for an Exceptional Needs Payment if:

you are living in the State
you satisfy a means test (all capital/property, except your home, is assessed in the means test)

Homemakers Scheme

The Homemaker's Scheme makes it easier for a homemaker to qualify for the higher state pension when the applicant reaches pension age. A homemaker is categorised as a man or woman who provides full-time care for either a child under 12 or an ill or disabled person aged 12 or over.

To qualify, the applicant needs to:

be aged under 66
have started insurable employment or self-employment on or after the age of 16 and before the age of 56
not work full-time but you can work and earn less than €38 gross a week
care full-time for a child under 12 or an ill or disabled person

Deserted Wife's Benefit (now called One-Parent Family Payment)

Up until 1997 women who were left by their husband could claim Deserted Wife's Benefit. While payment no longer takes applications, you can now apply for One-Parent Family Payment instead.

The One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for men and women under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. Those who are working full time can still qualify for this payment.

To qualify for the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) you must:

Be aged under 66
Be the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of a child under a certain age - see ‘Age limit for a child’ below
Be the main carer of at least one child under the age limit. The child must live with you. OFP is not paid if the parents have joint equal custody of a child or children.
Pass a means test – a means test looks at any income that you have – see ‘How your income is assessed for the One-Parent Family Payment’ below
Live in Ireland and meet the habitual residence condition – find out more about exemptions from the habitual residency condition.
Not be living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting

Back to Work Family Dividend

The Back to Work Family Dividend is available to support those moving from social welfare into employment. If you qualify for the scheme, you will receive a weekly payment for up to 2 years.

You will be paid the equivalent of any Increase for Qualified Children that were being paid on your jobseeker or one-parent family payment, up to a maximum of 4 children, for the first year in employment.

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