Social welfare payments and living on a specified island

People living on islands can face extra expenses travelling to the mainland to avail of services. If you are getting one of the social welfare payments listed below and living on certain islands off the coast of Ireland you can get an increase in your social welfare payment (sometimes referred to as an Island Allowance). The purpose of the increase is to compensate for the additional costs of living on an island off the coast of Ireland.

People getting certain pensions from another EU state are entitled to an increase for living on a specified island.

To qualify for an increase in the rate of your social welfare payment you must ordinarily live on a specified island off the coast of Ireland, be 66 years of age or over and getting one of the following payments:

• State Pension (Non-Contributory)
• State Pension (Contributory)
• Blind Pension
• Invalidity Pension
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
• Carer’s Allowance
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Widow’s/Widower’s Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme

If you are 66 years of age or over and getting a comparable pension to those listed above from another EU State, you are also entitled to the increase.

If you live on a specified island and are under 66 years of age you will qualify for an increase in your social welfare payment if you are getting one of the following social welfare payments:

• Invalidity Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• Blind Pension

If you are under 66 years of age and getting a comparable pension to those listed above from another EU State, you are also entitled to the increase.

Since January 2021, the Increase for Living on a Specified Island is €20 each week.

There is no application form to get an increase in the rate of your social welfare payment for living on a specifed island. You are assessed for an increase at the time of your application for a social welfare payment. If you are on a qualifying payment you automatically get the increase when you reach 66 years of age.

If you have any questions about the increase in the rate of your social welfare payment for living on a specifed island or whether you are entitled to it, you should contact the section in the Department of Social Protection which pays your social welfare payment.