Claiming an extra half-rate social welfare payment

Introduction

It is generally only possible to claim one personal social assistance or social insurance payment at a time in Ireland. However, in some circumstances, you can keep your personal payment and get half of another social welfare payment.

Since September 2007, if you are getting certain social welfare payments and you are providing full-time care and attention to another person, you can keep your main social welfare payment and get half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well. More information can be found in our document about qualifying for half-rate Carer's Allowance.

If you are working and claiming a social welfare payment you may qualify for half-rate Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, or Incapacity Supplement when you stop working. For example, if you are in insurable employment and also claiming a One-Parent Family Payment but stop working due to illness, you can keep your One-Parent Family Payment and may also qualify for half-rate Illness Benefit. You must of course meet the qualifying conditions for Illness Benefit to be eligible.

If you are working and getting a reduced-rate social welfare payment you may get more than half-rate Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, or Incapacity Supplement when you stop working.

Rules

To get a half-rate second payment (except Carer's Allowance), you must first be claiming one of the following social welfare payments:

• Widow's /Widower's  (Contributory) Pension
• Widow's/Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension
• Deserted Wife's Payment
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Death benefits or survivor's benefits under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, such as Widow's/Widower's Pension and Dependant Parent Pension.

In addition, you must satisfy the social insurance contribution and other conditions to one of the following payments:

• Jobseeker's Benefit
• Illness Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• Incapacity Supplement

If you meet these conditions you will get half the personal rate of payment, with no additional increases for children.  Incapacity Supplement can be paid for up to a maximum of 390 days (15 months). Illness Benefit will stop at 312 days (12 months), if you have less than 260 weeks (5 years) paid social insurance (PRSI). If you have at least 260 contributions your Illness Benefit can be paid for a maximum of 390 days (15 months). 

The restriction on your entitlement to these payments is contained in SI 342/1990 Social Welfare Overlapping Benefit Regulations.  These Regulations generally limit the circumstances in which people can get more than one social welfare payment.

Rates

If you are working and on a reduced social welfare payment you may get more than half-rate Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, or Incapacity Supplement when you stop working.

How to apply

To claim half of an additional social welfare payment, you apply in the normal way.  You should fill out the correct payment application form and return it to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.  The return address is printed on the application form.