‘One person-one payment' social welfare rule for thousands of Irish as ‘overlapping' cash eligibility revealed
The rule directly impacts those in receipt of certain social welfare payments and will prevent them from being eligible for a second boost, even if they meet other eligibility criteria.
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Minister
"Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but generally they can receive only one payment."
He added: "As a result, people on the Widows, Widowers and Surviving Civil Partners Pension cannot be in receipt of an overlapping second payment, for example Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension, at the same time."
As an example, the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's is a weekly payment made to the husband, wife or civil partner of a deceased person, provided there are enough PRSI contributions.
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Either the person claiming or their spouse or civil partner must have at least 260 paid contributions paid before the relevant date.
And an average of 39 paid or credited contributions in either the three or five years before the death of the spouse or civil partner or before he or she reached pension age.
However, people receiving this payment will not be eligible for other payments such as the Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension.
Similar criteria applies in the case of those receiving a Carers Benefit, who then are not entitled to the Jobseeker's Benefit.
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However, the Minister for Social Protection, in response to
Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted
Generally, you cannot receive two full social welfare payments at one time, however those on reduced rates of certain payments may be eligible for others.
For example, if a person is in receipt of a reduced rate of Widow's Pension and eligible for the Illness Benefit they may also receive a reduced rate of the second payment.
However, the combined amount of both
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Similarly, if a person is getting certain social welfare payments and providing full-time care to another person, they can keep the main social welfare payment and get half-rate Carer's Allowance.
This also applies to payments such as the Blind Pension where you may be able to receive two payments at once.
Some people may also be entilted to a half-rate Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Parent's or Health and Safety Benefit if they are on the following payments.
One-Parent Family Payment
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
Death benefits or survivor's benefits under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, such as Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension and Dependant Parent Pension.
You can apply for these half rate payments in the same way as other Social Welfare payments.
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As a general rule if a person is eligible for two different social welfare payments, they will receive whichever scheme pays out a higher sum.
'ESSENTIAL EXPENDITURE' NEEDS
On top of this, depending on the age of the person receiving a full social welfare payment and their living circumstances there are a range of other payments they may qualify for.
These include the Working Family Payment, Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance or Household Benefits Package.
However, this is dependent on meeting specific eligibility criteria outlined on the Gov.ie website.
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And despite having no current plans to change the structure mainly only allowing one payment to be received, the Minister for Social Protection revealed supports available to those struggling.
He explained: "My Department operates the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, administered by the Community Welfare Service, which provides a number of supports and services to help people facing financial hardship.
"Under this scheme, the Department may make an additional needs payment to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
"The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or working on a low income."
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There are key eligibility criteria people should be aware of
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