Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families.
If you have no income, you may be entitled to the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA). If your weekly income is below the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for your family size, a payment may be made to bring your income up to the appropriate Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate.
If you have claimed a social welfare benefit or pension but it has not yet been paid and you have no other income, you may qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting for your payment. However, the amount paid while you are waiting will be deducted from the arrears of your social welfare payment.
If you have started work, you may qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for up to 30 days while you are waiting for your wages.
You will normally qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you satisfy the following conditions:
You will not normally qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you are:
*This condition does not apply to your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. However, any income they have from work is taken into account in the means test.
The basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is made up of a personal rate for the applicant and additional amounts for any adult dependant or child dependant(s). A child dependant is a person under the age of 18 who lives with you and depends on you for support. If you have been getting SWA for at least 26 weeks, the age limit is 22 for a child dependant in full-time education or up to the end of the academic year after their 22nd birthday.
Age | Maximum personal rate |
Increase for a qualified adult |
Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) |
|
Aged 25 and over | €242.00 | €162.00 | Under 12 Years €50.00, 12 years and over €62.00 |
|
Aged 18-24 | €153.70 | €153.70 | n/a |
Reduced rates of Supplementary Welfare Allowance do not apply if you are under 25 years of age and if you :
You can apply through Community Welfare Services. Learn how to access Community Welfare Services here.
An application form is available to download here or from your your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office.
Application Form: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA1)
Claim Form for Supplementary Welfare Allowance/Additional Needs Payment. Edition: January 2025
To help process your claim, you should have the following:
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.