{"id":293531,"date":"2026-01-20T07:15:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T07:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/293531\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T07:15:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T07:15:20","slug":"how-to-qualify-for-little-known-scheme-to-pay-for-electricity-home-repairs-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/293531\/","title":{"rendered":"How to qualify for little-known scheme to pay for electricity, home repairs and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There is no limit to this little-known one-off payment from the Department of Social Protection and it could come in handy for a number of things including bills, repairs and more<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_GettyImages-2177457309jpgty.jpg\" alt=\"Euro notes\" loading=\"eager\"  \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Euro notes\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Euro notes(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There&#8217;s a little-known <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rsvplive.ie\/news\/irish-news\/hopes-energy-bills-fall-2026-36543150\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">one-off payment<\/a> that households might be eligible to claim.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rsvplive.ie\/all-about\/cost-of-living\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">payment<\/a>, which has no cap, is distributed by the Department of Social Protection and there are two conditions you need to meet to get it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Additional Needs Payment is designed to help <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rsvplive.ie\/life\/revenue-explain-little-known-items-36542253\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">cover an expense <\/a>that can&#8217;t be met from your weekly income or other sources, and it doesn&#8217;t have a maximum limit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Here&#8217;s everything you need to know about it and how to qualify.<\/p>\n<p>Who can claim?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">You could be eligible for an Additional Needs Payment if you are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Getting a social welfare payment, or<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Working and on a low income, regardless of the number of hours that you work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Even if you&#8217;re not receiving a social welfare payment, you might still be able to get this payment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When you apply, your income and circumstances will be evaluated to determine if you&#8217;re eligible.<\/p>\n<p>What does the Additional Needs Payment cover?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Additional Needs Payment can be used to help with an expense that you can&#8217;t cover from your weekly income or other sources (like savings).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">An increase in your fuel or electricity costs<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Essential repairs to property, including, replacing household appliances and furniture<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Funeral costs<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Deposits for private rented accommodation<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Bedding and cooking utensils, if you are setting up home for the first time<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Food, clothing and shelter after an emergency event such as a fire or flood<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Recurring travel costs to hospital for appointments, or for visiting a relative in hospital or prison<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Prams, buggies, cots, or essential child safety equipment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This isn&#8217;t an exhaustive list, and other expenses may also be covered.<\/p>\n<p>How to qualify<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To be eligible for an Additional Needs Payment, you must:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Live in Ireland, and<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have an income below the &#8216;weekly household income&#8217; limit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Your application will be reviewed by a Community Welfare Officer (CWO).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The CWO will consider your weekly household income, your savings and investments, your household expenses, and the type of assistance you require.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">They&#8217;ll examine your circumstances and decide if you&#8217;re eligible for the payment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In some cases, the CWO can provide a payment even if your income exceeds the weekly household income limit, but this will depend on your individual circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s the payment amount?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There isn&#8217;t a fixed rate for an Additional Needs Payment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The sum you receive will be based on your personal circumstances and what you require assistance with.<\/p>\n<p>How to submit an application<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">You have the option to apply either via paper application or online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When you put in an application for an Additional Needs Payment, it will be evaluated by a Community Welfare Officer (CWO).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">You&#8217;ll need to provide details about your weekly household income, outgoings, savings and investments, as well as those of everyone else in your household. You&#8217;ll also need to show evidence of the kind of help you need.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">You can submit your application online via MyWelfare.ie. To do this, you&#8217;ll need a verified MyGovID account.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If you&#8217;d rather, you can post your <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/department-of-social-protection\/forms\/supplementary-welfare-allowance-application-form-swa1\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"application for an Additional Needs PaymentLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">application for an Additional Needs Payment<\/a>, or arrange a meeting with your local CWO.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If you choose to send your application by post, the CWO may either issue a payment or set up a meeting with you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There is no limit to this little-known one-off payment from the Department of Social Protection and it could&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":293532,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[79,2190,18,19,17],"class_list":{"0":"post-293531","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-cost-of-living","10":"tag-eire","11":"tag-ie","12":"tag-ireland"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115926199420769140","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/293532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}