Additional Needs Payment

An Additional Needs Payment is a payment available to you if you have essential expenses that you cannot pay from your weekly income or other personal and household resources.

You may get this payment even if you are not getting a social welfare payment. It may be available to you if you are working and on a low income regardless of the number of hours that you work.

We can provide Additional Needs Payments for:

• the increased cost of heating and electricity
• essential repairs to property and replacing household appliances and furniture
• assistance with deposits for private rented accommodation
• furniture, bedding and other items if you are setting up a home for the first time
• funeral costs
• recurring travel expenses such as for hospital appointments or visiting relatives in hospital or prison
• child related items such as prams/buggies and cots, and essential child safety equipment
• assistance with immediate needs such as food, clothing and accommodation expenses following an emergency event such as a house fire
• other additional exceptional needs as they happen

The Additional Needs Payment does not cover non-essential household or personal expenses, or costs that are the responsibility of another government department or agency.

Additional Needs Payments are paid under Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the department.

Anyone on a social welfare payment or working and getting a low income may qualify for an Additional Needs Payment. We have to take your weekly household income, your savings and investments, your household expenses and the type of assistance you need into account.

To get an Additional Needs Payment, your application will be reviewed by a Community Welfare Officer and they will look at your circumstances before deciding the payment you can get.

There is no set 'rate of payment' for the Additional Needs Payment. The payment you get will depend on your weekly household income and the type of assistance you need.

Weekly household income guidelines*

• These income guidelines do not limit officers' discretion when issuing Additional Needs Payments to assist individuals or households in unique hardship circumstances.

Apply online

The quickest and easiest way to apply online is at MyWelfare.ie

If you cannot apply online

If you cannot apply on MyWelfare.ie, you can:

• collect an application form in any Intreo Centre or Branch Office and fill it out there. There is no need to make an appointment
• request for an Additional Needs Payment application form to be posted to you through our online form here
• download the application form:

The application form can be submitted by post to your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office

What you need to provide for us to help you with your claim

To help process your claim, you should have the following:

• Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) for yourself, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and your children
• proof of identity, for example: a Public Services Card (if you have one), a passport, driving license, work permit, Irish residence permit
• documents to show your income, expenses and financial situation, such as pay slips and bank statements