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Public Services

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

What is Supplementary Welfare Allowance?

Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a payment in Ireland to those who do not have enough income to meet their and their family's basic needs.

How to qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance:

To qualify, you must:

  • Be residing in the State
  • Meet the means assessment for Supplementary Welfare Allowance
  • Have applied for any other benefits or allowances they may be entitled to
  • If of working age, have registered for work with a local Intreo Centre
  • Meet the habitual residence condition

    • Additionally, EU/EEA and Swiss migrant workers who have been working in Ireland can access the Supplementary Welfare Allowance without having habitual residence assessed, as long as they have the right to reside in Ireland.

    People from the EU/EEA or Switzerland moving to Ireland seeking employment are subject to the habitual residence test while looking for work.

    Individuals who are not eligible usually are:

  • Working 30 or more hours per week.
  • Involved in full-time education.
  • Engaged in a trade dispute (though they can claim for their dependents)

    • The work hour condition does not apply to a spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, but their work income is considered in the means test.

    Rates of Payment:

    The payment includes a personal rate for the recipient and extra amounts for a qualified adult and any qualified dependent children.

  • Qualified Adult: Ta spouse or partner whose income is below a certain level.
  • Qualified Child: a child who must live with the recipient in the State, be the correct age for the payment being claimed, and not be in legal custody.

    • For those who have been receiving SWA for at least 26 weeks, the age limit is extended to 22 for a child dependent in full-time education or up until the end of the academic year after their 22nd birthday.

    Age Maximum Personal Rate Increase for a Qualified Adult Increase for a Qualified Child Under 12 Increase for a Qualified Child 12 and Over
    25 and Over €230.00 €154.00 €46.00 €54.00
    18 - 24 €141.70 €141.70 No Increase No Increase

    How to Apply:

    To apply please send or bring the completed Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA1) form, along with the relevant supporting documents, to your local Intreo Centre. You can also get this form at your local Intreo Centre.

    To help process your claim, you should have the following:

  • Personal Public Service (PPS) Number (REG1) for yourself, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and your children
  • proof of address
  • proof of residency (where relevant)
  • proof of identity, for example, a Public Services Card (PSC) (if you have one), a passport, driving licence, work permit, Irish residence permit
  • documents to show your income and financial situation, such as payslips and bank statements