Social welfare supports for Ukrainian refugees

If you come to Ireland from Ukraine and you are covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive, you can get income support from the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

The type of income support you get depends on if you are in State-provided accommodation or not – see ‘What social welfare payment can I get?’ below.

To get any Irish social welfare payment, you need a Personal Public Service Number (PPS number).

Personal Public Service number (PPS number)

A PPS number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare payments, public services and information in Ireland. A PPS number is always 7 numbers followed by either one or 2 letters.

If you arrive at Dublin Airport, you will be brought to the City West Convention Centre in Dublin. You can apply for your PPS number there.

If you did not arrive through Dublin Airport or you are in Ireland already, you should go to your local Intreo centre or DSP branch office, to apply for a PPS number.

You need identification (ID) to get your Irish PPS number. This can be your Ukrainian National Identity Card or your Ukrainian passport.

PPS number award letter

Shortly after you apply, you will get a letter from the DSP with your new PPS number. This is your ‘PPS number award letter’. It is an important document.

You will need it to collect your social welfare payment.

From 14 March 2024

From 14 March 2024, if you register for temporary protection and State-provided accommodation, you will be accommodated for a maximum of 90 days in a Designated Accommodation Centre.

You will get a weekly Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) payment of €38.80 for an adult and €29.80 for a child, subject to an income test (see BOTP income test below).

If you have any qualified children, you will also get a monthly Child Benefit payment.

You can read more about income supports and State-provided accommodation.

If you are not in State-provided accommodation, you can apply for social welfare payments in the same way as Irish citizens, as long as you meet the eligibility conditions.

Before 14 March 2024

If you arrived in Ireland before 14 March 2024 and you are living in a Designated Accommodation Centre where meals and utilities are provided, you no longer qualify for some social welfare payments. You will get the same rate of payment as people who arrived after 14 March 2024.

From 9 September 2024, you will get a weekly Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) payment of €38.80 for an adult and €29.80 for a child, subject to an income test (see BOTP income test below).

You will still be entitled to the Working Family Payment and a monthly Child Benefit payment for qualifying children. You can also apply for an Additional Needs Payment.

• If you are affected by the changes, you will get a letter from the Department of Social Protection.
• Designation of accommodation centres will be effective from September 2024.
• You will get a reduced payment from Thursday, 12 September 2024.

If you leave a Designated Accommodation Centre or make your own accommodation arrangements when you arrive in Ireland, you can apply for social welfare payments, if you meet the standard eligibility conditions.

If you are living in a Designated Accommodation Centre, you can get a weekly Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) payment of €38.80 for an adult and €29.80 for a child. The BOTP payment is subject to an income test.

Income test

Single person: You can have an income up to €125 per week. Your BOTP payment will stop, if you have an income over €125 per week. Income from all sources is assessed, including income from employment and social welfare payments.

A couple or family: The combined income of all family members is assessed. Your BOTP will stop if your income when averaged is more than €125 for each family member including children. Income from all sources is assessed, including income from employment and social welfare payments (except for Child Benefit).

This means you can have an income up to €125 for each family member before your BOTP will stop.

You collect your first social welfare payment at your nearest Post Office, called An Post.

The Department of Social Protection will send you a letter to let you know when your payment will be at the Post Office for you to collect.

You need to bring your ‘PPS number award letter’ and your ID with you to collect your payment at the Post Office.

You can use MyWelfare to change the Post Office where you are being paid. You can only use this service if you are covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

Other financial services

You can continue to get paid at your local Post Office or apply to have your payment made directly into your financial institution. Payments can only be made to an Irish financial institution, a Revolut or N26 account.

You can use the benefit of work estimator to check if income from work, including part time work, will affect your social welfare payment.

If you are getting a social welfare payment and you find work, you must tell your local Intreo centre or DSP branch office.

You must always tell the Department of Social Protection if there is any change in your circumstances. Some examples of a change in your circumstances are:

• You start work (paid or unpaid), including remote working, in Ireland or elsewhere
• You get any other income
• You move to different accommodation or change your address
• Your spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or child no longer lives with you
• You start a course of education or become a full-time student

You can find more information on our website about coming to Ireland from Ukraine and supports for Ukrainians in Ireland.

The Irish Government has also published social welfare information for people arriving from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive. This information is also available in Ukrainian and in Russian.