Social
welfare services
The social welfare system in Ireland provides a range of income and family supports along with many services. These services are provided for people with particular needs, for example, those who are unemployed, families, people with disabilities and carers.
Social welfare payments fall into three types.
Social Insurance or Contributory payments: These are available to those who have paid a specific number of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions while working. You may or may not qualify for a payment depending on the number of PRSI contributions you have made.
Means tested or non-contributory schemes: These are based on you and your family’s circumstances. You are required to have your means tested and to be ‘habitually resident’ (see box) in the state. This test establishes whether your income is below a certain level. The level will vary depending on the schemes and your family circumstances.
Universal payments: These include payments like Child Benefit, Free Travel and Respite Care Grant. They do not depend on PRSI contributions nor a means test but some other conditions must be satisfied such as Habitual Residence for Child Benefit.
What is ‘Habitual residence’?
Habitual residence considers things like:
The social welfare system in Ireland provides a range of income and family supports along with many services. These services are provided for people with particular needs, for example, those who are unemployed, families, people with disabilities and carers.
Social welfare payments fall into three types.
Social Insurance or Contributory payments: These are available to those who have paid a specific number of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions while working. You may or may not qualify for a payment depending on the number of PRSI contributions you have made.
Means tested or non-contributory schemes: These are based on you and your family’s circumstances. You are required to have your means tested and to be ‘habitually resident’ (see box) in the state. This test establishes whether your income is below a certain level. The level will vary depending on the schemes and your family circumstances.
Universal payments: These include payments like Child Benefit, Free Travel and Respite Care Grant. They do not depend on PRSI contributions nor a means test but some other conditions must be satisfied such as Habitual Residence for Child Benefit.
What is ‘Habitual residence’?
Habitual residence considers things like:
- your past addresses in Ireland;
- how long and how continuously you have lived in Ireland;
- the length and purpose of any absence from Ireland;
- the type and pattern of your employment;
- your general long-term plans for the future; and
- your primary area of interest.