What is the Additional Needs Payment?
The Additional Needs Payment assists with the necessary costs that a person or household cannot afford with their weekly income.
How to qualify for the Additional Needs Payment:
This payment may be available not only to individuals receiving social welfare payments but also to those who are working and have a low income, irrespective of their working hours. The qualification for this payment takes into account various factors including:
Additional Needs Payments can cover a variety of costs, including:
The payment does not cover non-essential household or personal expenses or costs that fall under the responsibility of another government department or agency.
Rates of Payment:
There is no fixed rate for the Additional Needs Payment; it depends on the applicant's weekly household income and the type of assistance required.
Weekly household income guidelines, for example, could be:
| Family Situation | Weekly Payment |
|---|---|
| Single person | €444.00 |
| Couple, no children | €544.00 |
| One child | €645.00 |
| Two children | €746.00 |
| Three children | €847.00 |
| Four children | €938.00 |
| Five children | €1,064.00 |
| Six children | €1,180.00 |
| Seven children | €1,316.00 |
| Eight children or More | €1,412.00 |
These income guidelines, however, do not restrict the discretion of Community Welfare Officers when issuing Additional Needs Payments to assist individuals or households in unique hardship circumstances.
How to Apply:
To apply please send or bring the completed Additional Needs Payment (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:
