How to appeal a decision about your social welfare claim

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. It aims to provide an independent, accessible, and fair appeals service with regard to entitlement to social welfare payments and to deliver that service in a prompt and courteous manner.

Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.

If you made an application for any of the schemes on this list,and have received a decision from Department of Social Protection that you think is incorrect, you can make an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

The easiest and quickest way to make your appeal is online through Make an Appeal on MyWelfare once you have a verified MyGovID account.

If you have received a decision letter from the department giving you the right of appeal, but it is not an available option to you on MyWelfare, please download an appeals form (below) called an SWAO1 form.

Click “print form to post” and post it to:

Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street , Dublin , D02 XY31.

Contact us if you need an alternative version of this form.

Phone number: 0818 747434 / 01 6732800

You cannot appeal the schemes on this list.

You should state your name, your address and your Personal Public Service (PPS) number and enclose:

• a copy of the decision you received from the scheme area that you are appealing
• the reasons why you think the department's decision is incorrect
• any relevant evidence that you think may support your appeal

Important: If you want any information or copies of documents that the department used in reaching the decision, contact the relevant scheme area of the Department of Social Protection.

Appeals must be submitted within 21 days of the date of the letter giving the decision you wish to appeal. An appeal made after that period may be accepted with the approval of the Chief Appeals Officer.

The Chief Appeals Officer will have regard to the causes and reasons for the delay as well as the length of time that has gone by since the notification of the decision of the Deciding Officer/Designated Person and the notification of appeal.

Please note if you are separately requesting a review of the decision directly with the scheme area, you do not need to wait for the outcome of that review to request an appeal as they are separate requests.

More information about the appeals process here.

If you made an application for any of the schemes on below list, you can make an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Pensions

• Death Benefit
• State Pension (Contributory)
• State Pension (Non-Contributory)
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory)
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Non-Contributory)

Working Age Income & Employment Supports

• Adoptive Benefit
• Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds
• Deserted Wife's Allowance
• Deserted Wife's Benefit
• Farm Assist
• Homemakers
• Jobseeker’s Benefit for the Self Employed
• Jobseeker’s TransitionalPayment
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Jobseeker's Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Pandemic Unemployment Payment(for decisions dating from 05/08/20 onwards)
• Parent’s Benefit
• Partial Capacity Benefit
• Paternity Benefit
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance (including Rent Supplement)
• Treatment Benefits

Illness, Disability and Carers

• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Support Grant
• Carer's Allowance
• Carer’s Benefit
• Disability Allowance
• Disablement Benefit
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Illness Benefit
• Enhanced Illness benefit for Covid 19
• Incapacity Supplement
• Injury Benefit
• Invalidity Pension
• Medical Care

Children

• Back to Work Family Dividend
• Child Benefit
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
• Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
• Widowed Parent Grant
• Working Family Payment

Other

• Class of Pay Related Social Insurance Payable
• Entitlement to Become a Voluntary Contributor
• Insurability of Employment (including Self-Employment)
• Liable Relatives
• Recoverable Benefits & Assistance

• Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
• Back-to-Work Schemes
• Credits (Award of)
• Free Travel Scheme
• Household Benefits
• Fuel Allowance
• Household Budgeting
• Overpayment (recovery under Code of Practice)
• Part-time Job Incentive
• PRSI Refunds
• School Meals
• Back to Education Allowance
• Community Welfare Services
• VTOS (Department of Education)
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance Exceptional Needs and Urgent Needs Payments.