Benefits &
Entitlements in Ireland
Q. It looks like none of my
benefits are going to transfer with me. How will I manage
when I return to Ireland?
A.
You will not be left penniless if you arrive in Ireland
with little/ no income because benefits you were receiving
cease when you leave the country
The benefit system operating in Ireland is for the most
part contribution based. (e.g. Invalidity Pension,
Carer's Benefit, Disability / Unemployment Benefit).
Means tested payments:
Where there are insufficient contributions or no
contributions anyone under 66 will be assessed for Pre
Retirement Disability Allowance, or Unemployment
Assistance.
Some one caring for an invalid full time may be entitled
to apply for a Carer's Allowance. It is very strictly
means tested so any British pension being received may put
an applicant over the limit for this benefit.
Anyone arriving in Ireland aged 66 or over with (after
conversion to euro) an income of less than the
Non-Contributory Pension in Ireland will have their income
'topped up' by the Irish State to this level. Any 'top up'
payment is means tested and will fluctuate because the
exchange rate from sterling to euro changes quite
frequently.
Where there is a delay with transfer of benefits or
assessing your claim for a benefit/pension in Ireland, an
application can be made for Supplementary Welfare
Allowance. This is a strictly means tested 'tide you
over' short-term payment and is repayable once your claim or
pension transfer are sorted out.
Q. What additional benefits
could I qualify for on my return to Ireland?
A.
Household Benefits Package consisting of:
- Allowance 1 - Electricity Allowance or Natural Gas
Allowance or Electricity (Group Account) Allowance or
Bottled Gas Refill Allowance.
- Allowance 2 - Telephone Allowance - which covers
mainly line/equipment rental and a tiny amount towards
call charges.
- Allowance 3 - Free Television licence
You will qualify if: You are 70 years or older Or
are in receipt of a Carer's Allowance; receive a qualifying
payment (Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Unemployability
Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with Disablement
Pension (for at least 12 months); Disability Allowance
Or an equivalent Social Security Pension/Benefit from
an EU country) And live alone or only with certain
excepted persons (Your spouse or partner if you are
receiving an allowance for him or her; Someone so
incapacitated as to require constant care and attention for
at least 12 months - medical certification may be
required.
A person who would qualify for the allowance in his/her
own right e.g. a person getting an Old Age Pension; A person
who is providing you, or someone in your household, with
constant care and attention, if you or that person is so
incapacitated as to require constant care and attention for
at least 12 months - medical certification may be retired.)
Or You are aged between 66 and 69, satisfy a means test.
You must also be permanently living (all year round) at
the address from which you apply.
You must also be a registered consumer of electricity/
Natural Gas and the registered telephone account holder if
you are applying for a Telephone Allowance.
Free Travel (Original Birth Certificate Required
Plus Photo I.D)
Anyone getting a Free Travel Pass must live in the State
on an all round year basis.
The scheme gives free travel to all people over 66 years
of age or someone receiving and of the following: Invalidity
pension, Blind Person's pension, Disability Allowance,
Unemployability Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with
Disablement Pension, for at least 12 months, Carer's
Allowance (entitled to single status pass only if under 66
years), A Social security Invalidity Pension/Benefit, for at
least 12 months from an EU country. Or are a specified carer
for people getting constant attendance allowance.
Living Alone Allowance
You need to be aged 66+ and receiving an old age pension,
Widows/widowers pension, Disability allowance, Invalidity
pension or Blind pension. BUT you only qualify if you are
receiving some Irish social welfare pension as well as your
UK payment.
National Fuel Scheme
This is a means tested weekly payment operating for 29
weeks of the year from October to late April.
You may qualify if you are dependent on long -term social
welfare or Health Board/similar payment.
Note!
For full information on Entitlements in Ireland: Please
see: www.welfare.ie
Q. I'm a disabled driver, how
will I fare out if I return to Ireland
permanently?
A.
Benefits for the Disabled Driver
According to the Disabled drivers Association if you buy
a car, as a disabled person, you pay the full cost of the
car but are excused from paying VAT/Vehicle Registration
Tax. Motor Tax is free to disabled drivers but insurance
costs for disabled drivers in Ireland are very high.
Disabled drivers are entitled to a % off the excise duty on
petrol but applying for this is very difficult and may take
months to process. The driver must keep all petrol receipts
and send them off every three months to the Revenue
Commissioners for a rebate on the excise duty paid.
(Address for information - Disabled Drivers Association,
Ballindine, Co Mayo -Tel: 00353 94 64266). If someone
returning to Ireland has the European blue badge this gives
them the same facilities as they get in their current
country of residence except they may not park on single or
double yellow lines
Q. How far does the Euro go in
terms of cost of living?
A. Cost of living: Ireland is the most expensive
country in the Euro zone in which to live. The cost of
living in Ireland is substantially higher than in the UK in
terms of food, electricity, clothing, footwear and fuel. We
do not know how it compares with countries other than the UK
but expect it is higher than all of them. A rough guide to
the price of food is to add one third to what you are paying
in Britain. Also remember that if you re-locate to a rural
area you may not have a choice of several supermarkets (less
competition often means higher prices) and you may not be
near to any 'cut price' store.
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