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.
Budget 2012
It was announced in Budget 2012 that there will be changes to the rules about getting two social welfare payments. Currently people getting Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pensions or One-Parent Family Payment can get half-rate Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit or Incapacity Supplement if they satisfy the qualifying conditions. These half rate payments will cease for new applicants for Illness Benefit (1 February 2012) Jobseeker's Benefit (2 February 2012), or Incapacity Supplement (3 February 2012).
People starting on the Community Employment (CE) scheme from 16 January 2012 cannot get other welfare payments, such as the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) or widows’ or civil partners’ payments, as well as CE.
It was also announced that people who are already on the Community Employment scheme will only get 1 payment for each qualified child; you will continue to get the Increase for a Qualified Child of your social welfare payment and you will only get the personal rate of CE from 16 February 2012.
For example, if you are getting the OFP and Community Employment, you currently get a personal rate and a child dependant rate of OFP and a personal rate and a child dependant rate of the Community Employment payment. After 16 February you will get a personal rate and a child dependant rate of OFP and a personal rate of the Community Employment payment, but not the child dependant rate of the CE payment.
Rules
To get a half-rate Maternity or Adoptive Benefit payment you must first be claiming one of the following social welfare payments:
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner'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 or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension and Dependant Parent Pension.
In addition, you must satisfy the social insurance contribution and other conditions for Maternity Benefit or Adoptive Benefit.
If you meet these conditions you will get half the personal rate of payment,
with no additional increases for children.
Rates
| Social insurance payment | Half-rate |
| Maternity Benefit (maximum) | €131 |
| Maternity Benefit (minimum) | €108.90 |
If you are working and on a reduced social welfare payment you may get more
than half-rate Maternity Benefit 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 Protection. The return address is printed on the application form.
Language
Related Documents
- Community Employment scheme
Community Employment helps long-term unemployed and other people in Ireland get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities - Half-rate Carer's Allowance
Half-rate Carer's Allowance is payable with certain other social welfare payments provided you meet the qualifying criteria. Find out how to qualify for half-rate Carer's Allowance. - One-Parent Family Payment
One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for men and women who are bringing children up without the support of a partner.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.