Home-help income and social welfare payments
Introduction
To qualify for a social assistance payment you must pass a means test. A means test takes place when the Department of Social Protection (DSP) examines all your income from various sources to see if it falls below a certain level. If it is below a certain level you may qualify for a social assistance payment.
Rules
Before January 2012 income from working for the Health Service Executive (HSE) as a home-help was not taken into account in the means test for the following payments:
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Disability Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
- State Pension (Non-Contributory)
However from January 2012 any income you get from working as a home help is taken into account.
How your income from employment or self-employment is assessed depends on the payment you are getting. Sometimes a certain amount of income from employment or income from a particular source is not taken into account. More information on income not taken into account (or disregarded) is available in our document on the means test.
Language
Related Documents
- Means test
To qualify for a social assistance payment you must satisfy a means test. A means test examines all your sources of income. However, some income is not taken into account in the calculation of your means. - State Pension (Non-Contributory)
The State Pension (Non-Contributory) previously called the Old Age Non-Contributory Pension is a means-tested payment available to people in Ireland aged 66 and over who do not qualify for a contributory pension. - Mortgage Interest Supplement
Mortgage Interest Supplement is a payment made by the Department of Social Protection. It provides short term support to help you pay your mortgage interest repayments.
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.