Organization : Government of Ireland
Facility Name : Apply for Rural Social Scheme
Country : Ireland
Website : https://www.gov.ie/en/service/059da9-rural-social-scheme/
What is Rural Social Scheme?
The Rural Social Scheme provides a supplementary income for low-income farmers and fishermen or women who are unable to earn an adequate living. To qualify for the scheme, you must be getting a social welfare payment. In return, people participating in the scheme provide services that benefit rural communities. You work 19.5 hours per week. These hours are based on a farmer or fisher-friendly schedule.
Related / Similar Status : Government of Ireland Apply for Tus Community Work Placement Initiative
How To Apply for Rural Social Scheme?
As Rural Social Scheme is administered locally, you should contact your local implementing body for further information or an application form.
Local Implementing Body Link : https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eb8f4e-rural-social-scheme-list-of-implementing-bodies/
How To Qualify For Rural Social Scheme?
To participate in the Rural Social Scheme, you must be 25 years or over and getting
** Farm Assist or
** if you are actively farming or fishing, you may qualify for the scheme if you are getting one of the following social welfare payments:
** Jobseeker’s Allowance
** Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
** Disability Allowance
** One-Parent Family Payment
** Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
** Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
** Increase for a qualified adult under 66 years of age as part of your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner’s State Pension (Non-contributory)
You can retain your medical card while you are taking part in the Rural Social Scheme.
Actively farming or fishing criteria
1. Criteria For A Farmer:
You must provide proof that you are actively farming. To do this, you must provide a copy of your application for the Basic Payment Scheme for the current year, including a valid herd number. If you are actively farming and have not applied for the Basic Payment Scheme, you should contact your local RSS implementing body for advice.
2. Criteria For A Child Or Sibling of A Farmer:
If you are a child or sibling of a herd number owner and you can certify that you are resident and or working on the farm and you are getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments, you may be eligible to participate in the scheme on the basis of your parent’s or sibling’s herd number.
Payment Rate of Rural Social Scheme
The Payment Rate of Rural Social Scheme are given below,
The rates of payment for new participants on the scheme depends on your qualifying social welfare payment.
The minimum weekly payment is €230.50.
Tax : Your income is liable for tax, although it is likely you will pay little or no tax.
Changes to your circumstances:
** The rules that apply to your original social welfare payment also apply to your Rural Social Scheme payment.
** This means that, if your dependant gets a job, their income will be assessed as means and your payment may be reduced.
** Your payment cannot be reduced below the minimum rate of €230.50.
** To avoid any possible overpayments, if there is any change in your circumstances, you should inform your local Rural Social Scheme implementing body.