Social welfare Ireland: How to qualify for scheme to pay for electricity, home repairs and more

People can qualify for a once-off social welfare payment that can be used for a variety of things, including electricity bills, home repairs, and more.

The Additional Needs Payment is a payment to help you with an expense that you cannot pay from your weekly income or other source.

When you apply for the scheme, your application will be assessed by a Community Welfare Officer (CWO). They will look at the person's circumstances to decide whether they qualify for the payment.

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The government has stated that, in some cases, the CWO can still provide the payment if the applicant's income exceeds the weekly household income limit.

How to qualify for the Additional Needs Payment?

To qualify for an Additional Needs Payment, you must live in Ireland and have an income below the 'weekly household income' limit.

How do you apply for the Additional Needs Payment?

To apply for the scheme, you must post your application or make an appointment with your local CWO. If you post your application, the CWO may issue a payment or arrange an appointment to meet with you. The application form can be downloaded and sent to your local Community Welfare Service.

You can also get an application form from the Community Welfare Service or have it posted to you by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie

What do you need to provide when applying for the Additional Needs Payment?

You will need some of the following to apply:

A PPS number for you and people in your family who are dependent on you, such as your partner or children

Proof of your identity, such as a Public Services Card, driving licence or passport

Proof of address, such as a household bill

Proof of residency, such as an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) or EU/EEA passport or national ID card

Proof of income and your financial situation, such as payslips and bank statements

For general information about the Community Welfare Service and application forms, phone 0818 607 080.

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