Supplementary Welfare Allowance Ireland : Citizens Information
Name of the Organization : Citizens Information Board
Type of Facility : Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Country: Ireland
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Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) provides a basic weekly allowance to eligible people who have little or no income. People with low incomes may also qualify for a weekly supplement payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme to meet certain special needs, for example, help with rent/mortgage interest payments or for urgent or exceptional needs.
Related : Citizens Information Board Claiming a Social Welfare Payment Ireland : www.statusin.org/7182.html
Rules:
If you have no income, you may be entitled to the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance. If your weekly income is below the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for your family size, a payment may be made to bring your income up to the appropriate Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate. If you have claimed a social welfare benefit or pension but it has not yet been paid and you have no other income, you may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting for your payment.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance is not a taxable source of income.
Conditions:
You will normally qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you satisfy the following conditions:
** You are living in the State.
** You satisfy the means test.
** You have applied for any other benefit or allowance you may be entitled to.
** You satisfy the habitual residence test, except for an Exceptional Needs Payment. EU/EEA workers and Swiss nationals working here will satisfy the habitual residence condition. However, people from the EU/EEA or Switzerland who move to Ireland in search of employment are subject to the habitual residence test in the normal way while looking for work.
** You have registered for work with your local Employment Services Office/Intreo office if you are of working age.
You will not normally qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you are:
** In full-time work, that is, working for more than 30 hours per week*.
** In full-time education.
** Involved in a trade dispute. However, you may claim Supplementary Welfare Allowance for your dependants.
This condition does not apply to your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. However any income they have from work is taken into account in the means test.
How to apply:
You should apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance to the Department of Social Protection’s representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer) at your local health centre as soon as the need arises. You must fill in a Supplementary Welfare Allowance claim form (pdf). To help process your claim, you should have the following:
** Personal Public Service (PPS) Numbers (formerly RSI numbers) for yourself, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and your children
** Proof of residency
** Proof of identity, for example, a passport, driving licence, work permit, immigration (GNIB) card, etc.
** Evidence of any income you and your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and children are getting
** A note from your local social welfare office and your last wages slip if you have just applied for Jobseeker’s Benefit or Allowance
** Your Child Benefit Book or birth certificates for any children you may be claiming for if you do not have PPSNs for them
** Documents to show your income and financial situation, such as, pay slips, P45, P35, P60, bank statements, etc.
Appealing a decision:
You have the right to appeal against a decision if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your claim. You can appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with appeals relating to basic SWA and SWA supplements but does not decide on appeals relating to Exceptional or Urgent Needs Payments.
Where to apply:
You should contact the Department of Social Protection’s representative (formerly the Community Welfare Officer) at your local health centre.