Operational Guidelines: Increase for Living on A Specified Island

The increase for living on a specified island (Island Increase) is an increase in weekly payment of certain payments from the Department of Social Protection (see below) who are aged 66 or over and are ordinarily resident on an island off the coast of Ireland, or are aged under 66 and in receipt of certain payments. The objective of the scheme is to compensate for the additional costs of living on these specified islands (see Appendix 1) when compared to people resident on the mainland.

The legislative basis for the payment of Island Increase is contained in the provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26 of 2005), as amended, and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 142 of 2007), as amended.

A person will qualify for an Island Increase if they:

• ordinarily live on an island off the coast of Ireland, as specified in Appendix 1, and
• are aged 66 or over, and
• is getting one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection:
• State Pension (contributory or non-contributory)
• Bereaved Partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) Pension
• Carer's Allowance
• One Parent Family Payment
• Bereaved Partner’s Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme

A person will also qualify if they are aged under 66 and getting one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection:

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

A person getting an equivalent payment in another EU country or in the United Kingdom, and who satisfies the above conditions, may also qualify.

The Island Increase is administered by the section/office dealing with the qualifying payment. An Island Allowance payable with:

• State Pension (contributory and non-contributory)
• Bereaved Partner's (contributory and non-contributory) Pension
• One Parent Family Payment or
• Bereaved Partner's Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme

is administered by:

An Island Allowance payable with:

• Invalidity Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Blind Pension and
• Carer's Allowance

is administered by:

Where a person indicates on the application form for the qualifying payment as listed above that they are ordinarily resident on one of the islands specified in Appendix 1, the entitlement to the Island Increase is decided upon in conjunction with the decision in respect of the qualifying payment. Persons reaching age 66 subsequent to the award of the qualifying payment are identified by way of a computer scan, and the allowance is awarded automatically.

Entitlement to the allowance is decided on the basis of the information furnished by the person on the application form for the qualifying payment.

All claims are decided by Deciding Officers appointed by the Minister under Section 299 Social Welfare (consolidation) Act 2005. A notification of the decision to award the allowance is issued to the claimant.

Where a person is refused an Island Increase, they may appeal the disallowance to the Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2.

The payment continues to be payable for as long as the condition of ordinarily residing on a specified island is satisfied.

List of Islands prescribed for the purpose of payment of the Island Increase

• An tOileán Ruaidh (also known as Island Roy), Co. Donegal
• Árainn Mhór, Co. Donegal,
• Árainn, Co. Galway,
• Bere Island, Co. Cork,
• Claggan Island, Co. Mayo,
• Clare Island, Co. Mayo,
• Cléire, Co. Cork,
• Clynish, Co. Mayo,
• Coney Island, Co. Sligo,
• Dernish Island, Moneygold, Co. Sligo,
• Dursey Island, Co. Cork,
• Fenit Island, Co. Kerry,
• Foynes Island, Co. Limerick,
• Gabhla, Co. Donegal,
• Heir Island (also know as Inishodriscol), Co. Cork,
• Inis Bearachain, Co. Galway,
• Inis Bigil, Co. Mayo,
• Inis Bó Finne, Co. Donegal,
• Inis Fraoich Uachtarach, Co. Donegal,
• Inis Meáin, Co. Galway,
• Inis Mhic Chionnaith, Co. Galway,
• Inis Oírr, Co. Galway,
• Inis Treabhair, Co. Galway,
• Inishboffin, Co. Galway,
• Inishcottle, Co. Mayo,
• Inishgort, Co. Mayo,
• Inishlyre, Co. Mayo,
• Inishnakillew, Co. Mayo,
• Inishturk Beg, Co. Mayo,
• Inishturk, Co. Mayo,
• Inse Ghainnimh, Co. Galway,
• Islandmore, Co. Mayo
• Lambay Island, Co. Dublin,
• Long Island, Co. Cork,
• Omey Island, Co. Galway,
• Sherkin Island, Co. Cork,
• Toraigh, Co. Donegal, and
• Whiddy Island, Co. Cork.