Social Welfare

There is no automatic entitlement to welfare in Ireland, unless you have paid sufficient contributions into the system here.  E.G.  Irish State Pension Contributory

However, this does not mean that returning emigrants cannot apply and qualify for welfare assistance. 

If on return to Ireland you need to apply for means tested welfare payments, you can do so but will have to meet various qualifying conditions, including income means testing. For Disablity and Carer's Allowance applications, supporting medical information will also be required.

If you have lived outside of Ireland, it is likely that any means tested social welfare claim you make will have to be accompanied by a Habitual Residence application – HRC1, this form is available to view/download HERE 

Meeting habitual residence applies across the board regardless of whether or not you were born and reared in Ireland/are an Irish Citizen. Under EU law, an exemption on Habitual Residence could not be made for Irish Citizens without extending this to all EU Nationals.

The term “habitually resident” is not defined in Irish law. 

In practice it means that, in terms of certain social welfare payments, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have (a) cut all ties abroad and that (b) they have sufficent ties to /in Ireland and an intention to remain here. 

The HRC does not have any bearing on a person's right to reside in Ireland. 

We will try to simplify the main points around the topic of Habitual Residence as it relates to means tested* social welfare applications in Ireland. 

*Important note! 

HRC also applies to Child Benefit, even though this is a non-means tested payment

When making decisions on relevant welfare applications, deciding officers will look at all other qualifying conditions for the payment and then consider whether the applicant is Habitually Resident in the State.

You must be Habitually Resident to qualify for the following payments:

• Blind Pension

• Carer’s Allowance

• Child Benefit* (please see note)

• Disability Allowance

• Domiciliary Care Allowance

• Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)

• Jobseeker’s Allowance

• One-Parent Family Payment

• State Pension (Non-Contributory)

• Supplementary Welfare Allowance

• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension

When assessing a welfare claim, firstly your right to reside in Ireland and other qualifying conditions are looked at, then when making a decision on Habitual Residence, the following 5 factors are examined:

• Length and continuity of residence in Ireland, past & present

• Length and purpose of any absence from Ireland

• Nature and pattern of employment

• Your main centre of interest

• Your future intentions to live in Ireland as it appears from the evidence

Applicants who are being assessed for Habitual Residency should provide as much back up documentation as possible with their claim/attach it to the HRC1 form. 

By backing up your claim with supporting documentation, it will be easier and quicker for a deciding officer to assess your eligibility. When considering the relevant documentation to provide, consider the following categories:

(A) Proof that shows you have cut all ties with the country you have left

And

(B) Proof to show your links with Ireland and that you intend to remain here for the foreseeable future.

Some examples of helpful supporting documentation:

• Proof to show you have given up accommodation abroad

• Proof that you have cancelled or applied to cancel any non-transferable benefits

• Proof you have transferred or applied to transfer any transferable income

• If feasible, proof to show that you have closed your bank account/s abroad and that you have applied to open a bank account here

• 3 months back bank statements and closing statement/s

• Proof to show you have a tenancy in your own name (in Ireland)

• Proof of travel documents including, where relevant, excess baggage fees and removal/shipping receipts

• Details of family connections in Ireland and previous residency here

• Proof to show children are in school here

• Proof to show a car has been registered in Ireland

• Registration with a GP here

• Proof to show you have joined any local organisations/community groups

For information that is specific to EEA nationals, please see HERE

Note!

If you have moved to Ireland and already received a positive decision on Habitual Residency, this should carry through to subsequent social welfare claims, unless there has been a significant change in circumstances since a new application was made.

The subject of Habitual Residence is a complicated one and each applicant’s case may differ depending on their individual circumstances.

Our advice is to make sure you have a good ‘paper trail’ of documentation that clearly outlines your circumstances.

If you think that HRC may apply to you, it is best to seek advice BEFORE submitting your welfare claim.

We would advise that you contact us directly and we will be happy to call or email you back to discuss your own individual case

You may wish to have a look at the welfare website for full detailed information, see HERE

As a general guide, anything that you have paid contributions into will transfer with you when you move (e.g. State Pension, Private or Works Pensions)

Any income that you currently receive which is non contributory/ means tested is unlikely to transfer with you (e.g.  Pension Credit payments, Income ‘top up’ payments)

For those based in the UK, you can contact  your relevant payment office or the DWP for more information on your specific circumstances. 

Please contact the International Pension Centre in the UK, HERE, for information about how a permanent move may affect your on-going entitlement. 

Our advice to anyone considering a move to Ireland from abroad, is to make enquiries with the Agency/Department that oversees your current payment. 

You will need to establish from them how a permanent move to Ireland is likely to affect your on-going entitlement. If possible, get confirmation of this in writing.

Contacting an Irish Welfare & Advice Centre or a local Citizens Advice Bureau may also be helpful.

Firstly, if you can, try to contact us ahead of arrival in Irleand. We can assess your situation and advise on a range of documentation that you should bring with you (if possible) in order to ease your transition into 'the system' here again. 

A Safe Home Outreach Officer can be available to assist you with relevant welfare applications. 

For those with no savings and little/no income, once their primary welfare application has been submitted, they can apply for means tested weekly payment via Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), to help to tide them over, while they await the assessment of a longer-term welfare application. 

Applicants must meet habitual residence requirements to qualify for weekly SWA

Once-off Exceptional Needs and Urgent Needs payments are also available under the SWA scheme. Appliants must be on low income. The once-off payments are NOT subject to Habitual Residency requirements 

For a full outline of benefits and entitlements for older people living in Ireland, please see HERE 

The Irish State Pension (Contributory) is paid to people from the age of 66 who have enough Irish social insurance contributions. It is not means-tested. You can have other income and still get a State Pension (Contributory). This pension is taxable but you are unlikely to pay tax if it is your only income.

Note! 

Qualifying applicants  can claim the Irish State Pension (Contributory) if living abroad

Irish State Pension Non-Contributory is a means tested social welfare payment for people aged 66 years and over who are permanently resident in Ireland. Applicants must meet income and savings means testing criteria and also be deemed habitually resident in Ireland in order to qualify. 

Postal enquiries about your social insurance contribution record should be addressed to:

 PRSI Records – Department of Social Protection, McCarter’s Road, Ardaravan, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.   

Tel: +353 1 471 5898 or 0818 690 690 (within Ireland)

Please see additional Government guidance regarding accessing your contributions history HERE

Yes, if you have sufficient contributions, the Irish State Pension (Contributory) can be paid to people living outside of the State.

Please Note! If you receive a Contributory Pension from Ireland and you are in receipt of any means tested, top up’ benefits or  housing support payments abroad, this additional income is likely to affect those payments.

The Pension Service in Ireland does not give ‘pension entitlement

forecasts’. However, for general enquiries in relation to a Contributory Irish

Pension or ‘pro-rata’ Pension (using a combination of pension

contributions made in Ireland and some countries abroad), you can make

general enquiries via the Pension Services Office in Sligo

Tel: (+353) 71 915 7100

Email: state.con@welfare.ie 

Should you wish to request a statement of your Irish contibutions history, please see HERE

For additional information on pension schemes, including the option to print or download the relevant application forms, please see HERE    

If you are aged 18 or over and unemployed, you may be paid either Jobseeker’s Allowance (means tested) OR Jobseeker’s Benefit (contribution based).

You can find out about transferring Job Seekers Benefit to Ireland HERE

You may get Jobseeker’s Allowance if you don’t have sufficient contributions to qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit or if you have used up your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit.

You must be unemployed to get Jobseeker’s Allowance. You must also be capable of, available for, and genuinely seeking work to qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance – and you must be able to show evidence of this to the Department of Social Protection. You must also be considered Habitually Resident in the State. Please see HERE for further guidance on the Habitual Residence Condition 

Apply to the Local Social Welfare Office

For additional information, please see HERE

For information on the full range of payments and supports available to Carers, please see HERE

Carer's Benefit is a contribution based payment that is available to people who give up work or reduce their working hours to qualify for a peson in need of full-term care. It is not an income means tested payment but applicants must have the required contributions in the system in order to qualify

Carer’s Allowance is a means tested payment to people who are looking after a person who needs full time care and support because of age, physical/learning disability or illness (including mental illness).

For a broad overview of payments and supports for people with disabilities, please see HERE

Disability Allowance is a means tested weekly allowance paid to people with a disability. You can get Disability Allowance from 16 years of age.

To qualify for Disability Allowance, you must:

(A) Have an injury, disease or physical or mental disability that has continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year

(B) As a result of this disability be substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications

(C) Be aged between 16 and 66. When you reach 66 years of age you no longer qualify for DA, but you are assessed for a State pension.

Important Notes!

(i) Means tested payments will be subject to not only meeting income and savings critiera, applicants must also be considered Habitually Resident in the State 

(ii) For Carers and Disablity related payments, a medical assessment forms part of the qualifying criteria 

For information on a broad range of information including qualifying conditions for 'secondary welfare' schemes, please see HERE 

Some of the most common are; 

- Household Benefits Package

- Living Alone Allowance 

- Free Travel 

- Fuel Allowance 

For full details on all welfare payments, including qualifying conditions, rates of payment and to view or download relevant Application Forms, please see HERE

No – Most means tested welfare payments are based on the applicant being considered Habitually Resident in the State. Please see HERE for additional information on habitual residency requirements

If you qualify for a social welfare payment you get an amount for yourself, which is called the ‘personal rate of payment’.

You may also get an extra amount for your adult dependant (called a qualified adult) which is paid as an increase to your personal payment (called an Increase for a Qualified Adult or IQA). An adult dependant is usually your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.

A cohabitant is one of two adults (whether of the same or opposite sex) who live together as a couple in an intimate and committed relationship and who are not close relatives.

The IQA is subject to other qualifying conditions and means testing. For more information on claiming for an adult dependent, see HERE

There are many different types of families and social welfare payments are designed to support those most in need of financial assistance. 

To find out more about the types of payments and qualifying conditions, please see HERE.

You will find an outline of all social welfare payments in Ireland HERE.

Have a look HERE for details of social welfare payment rates in Ireland proposed for 2025