Extra social welfare benefits
Information
If you are getting a social welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection, you may be entitled to additional or extra benefits depending on your personal circumstances.
In some cases, you can get a benefit even if you are not getting a social welfare payment. For example, everyone over 66 is entitled to avail of the Free Travel Scheme.
To get an extra benefit you must satisfy the qualifying criteria. For example, to get the Living Alone Increase you must be getting a certain social welfare payment and be living alone.
In some cases you automatically get an additional benefit. For example, if you get Invalidity Pension you automatically get free travel. However, for most additional benefits you must apply separately.
You may be entitled to the following additional social welfare benefits:
Fuel Allowance is an allowance that provides help with the cost of fuel to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments.
Household Benefits Package is a package of benefits that provides financial assistance with the cost of some household utilities. It includes an Electricity or Gas Allowance and a Free Television Licence.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme consists of a basic payment, called Supplementary Welfare Allowance, and other financial supplements for certain expenses you may not be able to meet, including emergency situations. These include Rent Supplement, Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, and Heating Supplements.
Free Travel Scheme allows people on certain social welfare payments to access public transport services for free. If you live on a specified island off the Irish coast you can access certain private transport services.
Telephone Support Allowance is an allowance for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. It aims to help those living alone with the cost of communications and/or home alert security systems.
Living Alone Increase is a supplementary payment for people getting certain social welfare payments who are living alone.
Island Increase is a supplementary payment for people getting certain social welfare payments and living on specified islands off the coast of Ireland.