Going abroad and social welfare payments

Introduction

You can get certain Irish social welfare payments and live in another country. You can also continue to get certain social welfare payments if you are on holiday abroad for a specific period of time or if you are getting medical treatment abroad.

Most social insurance payments can be paid to you outside of this state, though the duration can depend on the payment and your circumstances. However, to get a social assistance payment you must live in Ireland. Some social assistance payments will not be paid even if you take a holiday abroad, for example, Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

Rules

Irish social welfare payments paid outside the state

If you are living outside the Irish state, the following social welfare payments can be paid:

• Invalidity Pension
• State Pension (Contributory)
• State Pension (Transition)
• Disablement Benefit. The Constant Attendance Allowance increase is only paid for up to 6 months.  However, if you are abroad for medical treatment you may continue to get Incapacity Supplement, such claims are assessed on a case by case basis.
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
• Widow's/Widower's Contributory Pension
• Death Benefits under the Occupational Injury Benefit Scheme
• Bereavement Grant

 If you are getting one of the above social welfare payments and you are going abroad for just a few weeks, you do not have to notify the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

If you are going abroad for a long period of time or moving abroad permanently you must notify the Department. You will be asked to produce evidence to prove that you continue to fulfil the qualifying conditions for the payment. For example, if you move abroad you must not be married or living with someone as husband and wife to continue to get a Widow's/Widower's Contributory Pension.

To get your social welfare benefit paid to you abroad, you must contact the section in the Department of Social and Family Affairs that pays your payment and give your bank account details so that they can transfer your payment directly into a bank account while you are abroad. Where payment is already made onto your bank account in the State, you can continue to have it paid as it is or change it to a financial institution outside the country.

You must always notify the Department of a permanent or temporary absence from the State and give your contact address abroad.

Payments made abroad in limited situations

Injury Benefit can be paid abroad if you are getting approved medical treatment.

Illness Benefit can be paid abroad if you are getting approved medical treatment. It can be paid up to a maximum of 4 weeks while you are on holiday abroad. If you are going to an EEA member state you are entitled to be treated as if you never left the Irish State, regardless of your reason for leaving the State. However, you must still meet all the qualifying criteria for Illness Benefit which includes submitting medical certificates to DSFA.

Adoptive Benefit and Maternity Benefit can be paid abroad, if you are getting approved medical treatment. If you are working in another EEA member state you may qualify if you continue to be insured under the Irish Social Welfare Acts.

Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) may be transferred to another EEA member state for up to 13 weeks, if you are looking for work there. You must be getting Jobseeker's Benefit for 4 weeks before you can transfer it to another EEA member state.  You must take Form E303 to the social services of the country you are traveling to. You can get a completed Form E303 from your local social welfare office.

JB can also be paid while representing Ireland in an amateur capacity at an international sporting event. You must get written confirmation of the sport and time involved from the governing sporting body. You can go on holiday abroad for up to 2 weeks per year.

The following payments are not paid outside the state

• Deserted Wife's Allowance
• Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
• Pre-Retirement Allowance
• Prisoner's Wife's Allowance
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance including Rent Allowance
• Health and Safety Benefit 

The following payments are not paid if you are outside the state but there are some exceptions depending on your circumstances

Deserted Wife's Benefit can be paid up to a maximum of 3 weeks.

Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit can be paid if you accompany the person you are caring for abroad to get medical treatment.  You can also go abroad on a respite break for a maximum of 3 weeks.

Disability Allowance can be paid if you are getting medical treatment or studying abroad. You must notify the Department and provide proof of medical treatment or education abroad. Under legislation you have no entitlement to be paid Disability Allowance while on holiday. However, in practice Disability Allowance may be paid for 2-3 weeks while you are on holiday abroad.

One-Parent Family Payment can be paid up to a maximum of 3 weeks while you are on holiday abroad. You must notify the Department in advance that you are going abroad.

Widow's/Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pensions, State Pension (Non-Contributory) and Blind Pension you can go abroad in exceptional circumstances for a maximum of 13 weeks.  You will get your payment when you return. If you are getting State Pension (Non-Contributory) or Blind Pension and take up residence in Northern Ireland, the pension is payable until you become entitled to an equivalent payment from Northern Ireland or for a period of 5 years whichever is the shorter.

Child Benefit can be paid to volunteer development workers and members of the Irish Defence Forces or Irish Civil Service serving abroad. It can also be paid if you are working abroad for an Irish employer and paying Irish social insurance contributions.

If you are getting Jobseeker's Allowance you can go on holiday for a maximum of 2 weeks and get the 2 weeks payment on your return. You must notify your social welfare local office in advance of taking your 2 weeks holiday. It can also be paid on your return from representing Ireland in an amateur capacity an international sporting event.

If you are getting Pre-Retirement Allowance you can go on holiday for a maximum of 2 weeks and cash your payment order on your return.  If you go on holiday for more than 2 weeks you must return your payment book to before you go on holiday abroad. When you return you will get your payment book back but will only get a payment for 2 weeks of your holiday.

Further information

For further information about transferring your social welfare payment abroad, or taking holidays while getting a social welfare payment, contact the section in the Department of Social and Family Affairs that pays your social welfare payment or your Social Welfare Local Office.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs provides a Lo-call telephone number, your telephone call will be charged at the price of a local call.

Lo-Call: 1890 500 000