Thousands across Ireland could be earning extra with little known social welfare bump

Thousands of people across Ireland could be earning extra money each with with a lesser known social welfare bump that could help stretch your earnings.

The Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for people who are living alone and getting a social welfare payment. The weekly rate for the Living Alone allowance is €22.

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How to qualify?

If you are aged 66 or over and live alone, you will qualify for the Living Alone Increase if you are getting one of the following payments:

• State Pension (Contributory)
• State Pension (Non-Contributory)
• Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension
• Bereaved Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• Deserted Wife's Benefit

If you are under 66 and live alone, you will qualify for the Living Alone Increase if you’re getting one of the following payments:

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

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Do I have to live alone to get the increase?

You must live alone to get the increase in your payment. However, there are some exceptions.

Granny flats

If you are living in an extension of a family member's home - for example, in a granny flat - you can qualify for the increase if you can show that you have facilities to cook and eat alone.

You must also have your own living or dining room and sleeping accommodation.

Sheltered accommodation

If you live in sheltered accommodation, you may qualify for the Living Alone Increase if you are regarded as living independently within the institution. You can find a list of hostels and homes where the Living Alone Increase is payable on Gov.ie.

You will not qualify if you share dormitory accommodation with others or have round-the clock supervision or nursing care.

People who live in nursing homes will not qualify as they cannot be regarded as living completely or mainly alone.

People who can stay with you

You can also qualify as living alone if you:

• Are aged or infirm and have a friend or relative to stay for security reasons at night-time only (the friend or relative must not contribute to the household financially)
• Live alone during the day but stay with relatives or friends at night or if you live alone during the week but have a relative to stay at the weekend (the living alone condition is satisfied as long as the relative has a permanent home address elsewhere)

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• Live alone but occasionally take in paying guests (for example, during a local festival) - but if you run a bed and breakfast business (even for part of the year) you will not qualify
• Allow somebody who is not an employee or not an immediate family member to stay in your home rent free and you would be living alone, but for that person
• Are renting for at least 28 consecutive days to somebody who is not an employee and not an immediate family member, and you would be living alone, but for that person
• Are hosting somebody from Ukraine covered by the Temporary Protection Directive and you would be living alone, but for that person.

Telephone Support Allowance

The Telephone Support Allowance is an extra payment that helps people living alone with the cost of communications or a home alert system.

You will qualify for the Telephone Support Allowance if you are getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance, with certain social welfare payments.

The allowance is €2.50 per week and is paid with your main weekly payment. It is paid automatically, so you do not need to apply for it.

You can read more about the Telephone Support Allowance on Gov.ie.

How to apply for a Living Alone Increase

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Fill in a Living Alone Increase application form. Send the completed form to the section of the Department of Social Protection that pays your main pension or benefit.

Your Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office will be able to answer any questions about the Living Alone Increase and can help you to complete your form. You can also get help from your local Citizens Information Centre.