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Increase for Living on a Specified Island
From Department of Social Protection
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The Increase for Living on a Specified Island is sometimes called an Island Allowance. The rate of payment is €20.00.
People living on islands can face extra expenses travelling to the mainland to avail of services.
The increase is to compensate for the additional costs of living on an island off the coast of Ireland.
Since March 2005, 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:
- live on an island off the coast of Ireland in this list
- be 66 years of age or over
be 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
- 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 an island on the list, 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:
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.
The Increase for Living on a Specified Island is €12.70.
There is no application form to get this increase.
You are assessed for the 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.
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
