Increase for Living on a Specified Island

The Increase for Living on a Specified Island is sometimes called the Island Allowance or Island Increase. The rate of payment is €20.

People living on islands can face extra costs travelling to the mainland to access services. This increase is to compensate for those extra costs of living on an island off the coast of Ireland.

People over the age of 66

To qualify for this payment you must live on one of the islands off Ireland where you can get this payment.

You also have to be getting one of the following payments:

• State Pension (Non-contributory)
• State Pension (Contributory)
• Blind Pension
• Invalidity Pension
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
• Carer's Allowance
• Widow’s/Widower’s Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme

Since March 2005, people getting certain pensions from another EU state are entitled to an increase for living on a specified island.

People under the age of 66

If you live on an island where you can get this payment and are under 66 years of age, you will qualify for an increase in your social welfare payment if you are getting one of the following social welfare payments:

• Invalidity Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Incapacity Supplement
• Blind Pension

If you are under 66 years of age and getting a comparable pension to those listed above from another EU State, you are also entitled to the increase.

The Increase for Living on a Specified Island is €20. You will get this in addition to your other welfare payments.

There is no application form to get this increase.

You are assessed for the increase at the time of your application for a social welfare payment.

If you are on a qualifying payment you automatically get the increase when you reach 66 years of age.

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.

Operational Guidelines: Increase for Living on A Specified Island.