Social welfare supports for Ukrainian refugees

If you have come to Ireland from Ukraine and you are covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive, you can get income support from the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

This is a weekly social welfare payment for you and any dependents (for example, children) you may have – see ‘What social welfare payment can I get?’ below.

To get any Irish social welfare payment you need a Personal Public Service Number (PPS number).

Personal Public Service Number (PPS number)

A PPS number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. A PPS number is always 7 numbers followed by either one or 2 letters.

If you arrive at Dublin Airport, you will be brought to the City West Convention Centre in Dublin. You can apply for your PPS number there.

If you did not arrive through Dublin Airport or you are in Ireland already, you should go to your local Intreo centre or DSP branch office, to apply for a PPS number.

You need identification (ID) to get your Irish PPS number. This can be your Ukrainian National Identity Card or your Ukrainian passport.

PPS number award letter

Shortly after you apply, you will get a letter from the DSP with your new PPS number. This is your ‘PPS number award letter’. It is an important document.

You will need it to collect your social welfare payment.

If you are under 66 and you are covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive, you generally get a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment when you arrive in Ireland. People aged 66 and over will get a Supplementary Welfare Allowance before being transferred to a State Pension (Non-Contributory).

However, you should check which social welfare payment best suits your situation and apply for it as soon as you can. You can visit your local Citizens Information Centre to get help finding the payment that is best for you.

Family payments

If you have children, you can get Child Benefit. This is a monthly payment paid to the parents or guardians of children aged under 16. It is also paid for children aged 16 and 17 in full-time education. You do not have to have proof that your child aged 16 or 17 is in full-time education for 2 months after you arrive in Ireland.

You can get a Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance if you have children going to school or college, you are getting a qualifying payment, and your weekly income is under the weekly limit for your family size:

*The income limit is increased by €50 for each additional dependent child.

One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) - a weekly payment for people aged under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. To get OFP, you must have at least one child who is under 7 (there are some exceptions). You can work and get OFP, but your income must be under a certain amount. If your child is over 7, you may get a weekly payment called Jobseeker’s Transitional payment.

Jobseeker’s Transitional (JST) - a weekly payment for people who are parenting alone and whose youngest child is aged between 7 and 13 years. You can work and get JST, but your income must be under a certain amount.

Working Family Payment (WFP) – a weekly payment to parents who work and earn below a weekly income limit for your family size.

Other payments

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) - a weekly payment for people aged between 18 and 66 who are unemployed and looking for work. You can work and get JA. However, you can only work a certain number of days and your income must be under a certain amount.

Disability Allowance (DA) - a weekly payment for people aged between 16 and 66 who have a disability. You can work and get DA, but your income must be under a certain amount.

Carer’s Allowance (CA) - a weekly payment for people who are caring for a person who needs support because of their age, disability or illness (including mental illness). You can work and get CA. The number of hours you work and your income must be under a certain amount.

State Pension (Non-Contributory) (SPNC) - a weekly payment for people aged 66 and over who have a low income or no income. You can work and get SPNC, but your income must be under a certain amount.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) - a weekly payment. It is an emergency or temporary payment. For example, if you applied for a social welfare payment but it has not yet been paid, you may get SWA while you are waiting for your payment. Some people from Ukraine were given this payment when they first arrived in Ireland.

Rent Supplement is a payment to help with the cost of private rented accommodation.

You can find out more about the range of social welfare payments available on citizensinformation.ie.

When you apply for a social welfare payment, you should provide information about any children or adult dependents you may have. You could get an increase in your payment for them.

If you need help applying for a social welfare payment, you can visit your local Intreo centre or DSP branch office.

Your local Citizens Information Centre can also give you help and advice on social welfare payments.

You collect your first social welfare payment at your nearest Post Office, called An Post.

The Department of Social Protection will send you a letter to let you know when your payment will be at the Post Office for you to collect.

You will need to bring your ‘PPS number award letter’ and your ID with you to collect your payment at the Post Office.

You can use MyWelfare to change the Post Office where you are being paid. You can only use this service if you are covered by the EU Temporary Directive.

Other financial services

You can continue to get paid at your local Post Office or apply to have your payment made directly into your financial institution. Payments can only be made to an Irish financial institution, a Revolut or N26 account.

Most social welfare payments allow you to do some work and keep your payment. You can use the benefit of work estimator to check if income from work, including part time work, will affect your social welfare payment.

If you are getting a social welfare payment and you find work, you must tell your local Intreo centre or DSP branch office.

You must always tell the Department of Social Protection if there is any change in your circumstances. Some examples of a change in your circumstances are:

• You start work (paid or unpaid), including remote working, in Ireland or elsewhere
• You get any other income
• You move to different accommodation or change your address
• Your spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or child no longer lives with you
• You start a course of education or become a full-time student

You can find more information on our website about coming to Ireland from Ukraine and supports for Ukrainians in Ireland.

The Irish Government has also published social welfare information for people arriving from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive. This information is also available in Ukrainian and in Russian.