Additional social welfare benefits

Information

If you are getting a social assistance payment or a social insurance payment from the Department of Social Protection you may be entitled to additional benefits depending on your personal circumstances.

To get an extra benefit you must satisfy the qualifying criteria. For example, to get the Living Alone Increase you must be getting a certain social welfare payment and be living alone.

In some cases you automatically get an additional benefit. For example, if you get Invalidity Pension you automatically get a Free Travel Pass. However, for most additional benefits you must apply separately.

If you are getting a social welfare payment you may be entitled to the following additional social welfare benefits:

Living Alone Increase is a supplementary payment for people getting certain social welfare payments who are living alone.

Household Benefits Package is a package of benefits that provides financial assistance with the cost of some household utilities. It includes an Electricity or Gas Allowance, a Telephone Allowance and a Free Television Licence.

Free Travel Pass allows people on certain social welfare payments to access public transport services for free. If you live on a specified island off the Irish coast you can access certain private transport services.

Fuel Allowance is an allowance that provides help with the cost of fuel to people who are dependant on long-term social welfare payments.

Island Increase is a supplementary payment for people getting certain social welfare payments and living on specified islands off the coast of Ireland.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme consists of a basic payment, called Supplementary Welfare Allowance, and other financial supplements for certain expenses you may not be able to meet, including emergency situations. These include Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplements, Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, and Diet and Heating Supplements.