Applying for social welfare payments and services online

You can apply online for many social welfare payments using the MyWelfare website.

For example, you can apply online for:

• Jobseeker’s payments
• Illness Benefit
• Paternity Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• Child Benefit
• PRSI refunds

If needed, you can also upload your supporting documents using MyWelfare.

Other online social welfare services

You can also use the MyWelfare website to:

• Make appointments for a Personal Public Service number, or a Public Services Card
• Update your address details
• Update your bank details
• Request a payment statement or a contribution statement
• Close a jobseeker’s claim
• Request a jobseeker’s holiday
• Send work and skills information to your case officer
• Check your eligibility for dental and optical benefits
• See how taking up employment may affect your social welfare payment (using the ‘Benefit of Work Estimator’)

You can also use the pension calculation tool on the Pensions Authority website.

To use MyWelfare online services, you must create a MyGovID account. This is a secure online identity-verification service.

Your MyGovID account lets you access a range of government services online, as well as social welfare services.

There are 2 types of MyGovID account:

• A basic MyGovID account
• A verified MyGovID account

A basic MyGovID account lets you access services like:

• Booking appointments online for a PPS number and Public Services Card
• Request a statement of your PRSI contributions.

To create your basic MyGovID account, you should:

1. Visit MyGovID.ie
2. Enter your email address, create a password and click ‘Register now’
3. A code will be sent to your email address, which you must enter on-screen to complete your basic account registration.

Once you have activated your MyGovID account, you can log into your basic account. You will see a list of online services, including MyWelfare services.

You can also log directly into MyWelfare using your MyGovID.

A verified MyGovID account is more secure than a basic account. It lets you access all available services.

You can upgrade from a basic account to a verified MyGovID account at MyGovID.ie or you can download the MyGovID app onto your smartphone.

To upgrade from a basic account to a verified MyGovID, you need:

• A Personal Public Service (PPS) number
• A Public Services Card (PSC), and
• A verified mobile phone that can receive text messages. If your phone is not yet verified by the Department of Social Protection, you can call them on 0818 927 999.

If you do not have a PSC, you can apply:

• Using the MyGovID app
• In-person at a PSC Centre

If you do not have a PPS number, you will need to apply for your PPS number at a designated PPS Number Allocation Centre.

Every time you access your verified MyGovID account, you will be asked to enter a verification code which has been sent to your mobile phone. This 2-step authentication process makes your account more secure.

Once you have a verified account, you can apply for social welfare payments online. In some cases, you must be invited by the Department of Social Protection to apply online.

Visit MyWelfare.ie to access social welfare services and payments online.

I don’t have access to the Internet

If you don’t have internet access, you can continue to apply for social welfare payments as normal. MyWelfare is just another way to access services, apply for benefits, or amend your jobseeker’s details.

You can find information about how to apply for social welfare payments by searching for the payment on our website.

You may also want to contact:

• Your local Intreo Centre or branch office
• Your local Citizens Information Centre