Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme: Your questions answered

Notice to prospective applicants dated 2 March 2026

Changes to the eligibility criteria for the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) have been introduced under Part 3 of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026.

From 3 March 2026, new applications for properties that have been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) will no longer meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. This applies to properties registered with the RTB at any time since 4 March 2022. Tenants in rental properties will also no longer be eligible to make new applications for the scheme.

Notice of changes for prospective applicants dated 01 January 2026

From 1 January 2026, late applications for the Accommodation Recognition Payment can be backdated for a maximum of six months from the date of application, provided you were eligible for the payment during that period.

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has made regulations giving effect to this change (S.I. No. 672/2025). This change is intended to support the effective administration of the scheme.

What the scheme is and what it does

The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a tax-free monthly financial contribution of €600 available to you if you are providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive since March 2022. This financial contribution is paid per eligible property, not per person hosted.

It is available to you if you are hosting in your own home or providing accommodation in a vacant property.

It is available to you if you have made the hosting arrangement privately, through the Irish Red Cross pledge process or the Offer a Home scheme.

It is exempt for means-testing for social welfare payments and grants from other public bodies.

The scheme is provided for in Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is referred to under the legislative title of the Financial Contribution for Hosting Temporary Protection Beneficiaries Scheme

The ARP is:

• a recognition for providing accommodation to temporary protection beneficiaries
• a recognition that the accommodation is being offered for at least 6 months

The scheme sets accommodation standards and the applicant is required to make a declaration on those standards as part of the application process. If such a declaration isn’t made the application will fail.

The ARP is intended to recognise the contribution of those who have provided shelter to temporary protection beneficiaries from Ukraine. The financial contribution is not payable where there is a rental agreement in place. It is not intended to substitute rent, and it does not create any obligation for the beneficiaries in the accommodation, such as payment of rent or provision of services.

From 3 March 2026, new applications for properties that have been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) will no longer meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. This applies to properties registered with the RTB at any time since 4 March 2022. Tenants in rental properties will also no longer be eligible to make new applications for the scheme.

For simplicity, the term “beneficiaries” refers to one or more temporary protection beneficiaries throughout this page.

Changes to the monthly payment rate

From 1 June 2025, the monthly payment rate is €600.

The monthly payment rate was previously set at €400 from 4 March to 30 November 2022. It was then increased to €800 from 1 December 2022 to the 31 May 2025, before the reduction to €600 from 1 June 2025.

Backdated payments

Payments may be backdated to when you started providing accommodation.

From 1 January 2026, late applications for the ARP can be backdated for a maximum of six months from the date of application, provided you were eligible for the payment during that period.

What the scheme is not and what it doesn’t do

• it is not intended to cover all costs incurred by the host
• it does not create any obligation for the temporary protection beneficiaries in the accommodation, such as payment of rent or provision of services, however, the beneficiaries may agree to contribute towards the cost of utilities
• it does not create a landlord and tenant relationship between the accommodation host who has qualified for the financial contribution and the Ukrainians living in the accommodation
• it does not give temporary protection beneficiaries in accommodation an automatic right to tenancy

Who is eligible to receive ARP?

You may get this payment if:

• you are aged 18 or over
• you have a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).
• you are providing (or have provided). accommodation to at least one person who has arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
• the accommodation meets the required standards. You are required to confirm this as part of your application.
• your property is in the Republic of Ireland.
• there is at least 1 person being hosted on the last day of the calendar month for which payment is due.
• you are the owner of the accommodation being provided to the temporary protection beneficiaries and you have the consent of any other owners.
• there is no rental agreement between you and the temporary protection beneficiaries you are hosting
• the property you are hosting in has not been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) at any time since 4 March 2022.

What is the rate of the monthly payment?

ARP is a monthly payment of €600 per eligible property. It is paid in recognition of the contribution of those providing accommodation to temporary protection beneficiaries from Ukraine.

How can you apply for the ARP scheme?

The quickest way to apply for this payment is online through the MyWelfare website.

What information is required for an ARP application?

You will need to supply the following information:

How is ARP paid?

ARP is paid by electronic fund transfer (EFT) to the bank account that has been nominated on the application. Payments can be made to an Irish, UK, SEPA, N26 or Revolut bank account.

When is ARP paid?

ARP is paid on the second Tuesday of each month, and includes arrears that may be due, up to a maximum of six months from the date of application.

Can you get ARP if you can only host a person for 3 months?

When you apply for the ARP you commit to host a temporary protection beneficiary for at least 6 months. In the absence of that commitment, you cannot apply for the recognition payment.

When will the ARP scheme end?

The scheme is due to end on 31 March 2026. However, it may be further extended by order of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in accordance with the governing legislation.

What will your details be used for if your host is applying for ARP and needs your details to make the application?

The host may only use your details for the purposes of applying for ARP and cannot use them for any other purpose. The Department of Social Protection will use your details to validate the ARP claim. This may include checking that you have Temporary Protection status with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration.

Do you have to wait 6 months before you can apply for the ARP?

You may make an online application to the Department of Social Protection for the payment where you have accommodated a person covered by the Temporary Protection Directive. An application for payment can only be made after the hosting arrangement has started. The payment is conditional upon a commitment to provide the accommodation for a period of 6 months. From 1 January 2026, payments may be backdated to the date you began hosting up to a maximum of 6 months, if applicable.

Do you have to repay any money if you commit to 6 months and have to back out?

If you are unable to meet the 6-month commitment you made, you will not be required to repay any money paid to you in respect of the period that a temporary protection beneficiary lived in your accommodation.

Where the circumstances of a host in receipt of a payment change, the host is required to notify the Department of Social Protection of the change in circumstances as soon as possible.

Where a person is not entitled to the financial contribution, any such contribution may be recoverable by the Department of Social Protection.

Do you have to repay any money if the person covered by the Temporary Protection Directive you are accommodating finds their own accommodation and moves out before the 6 month commitment period?

If the person covered by the Temporary Protection Directive leaves the accommodation before the 6-month commitment period you made, you will not be required to repay any money paid to you in respect of the period that a beneficiary lived in your accommodation.

Where the circumstances of a host in receipt of a payment change, the host is required to notify the Department of Social Protection of the change in circumstances as soon as reasonably practicable.

Where a person is not entitled to the financial contribution, any such contribution may be recoverable by the Department of Social Protection.

How do you repay an overpayment to the Department of Social Protection?

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) is administering the ARP on behalf of Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration. Any overpayments will be managed by DSP. If you have received a payment that you are not entitled to, you should contact the Department of Social Protection at ARP@welfare.ie or at 0818 708090. The Department will advise you on the next steps.

Is Garda Vetting required to avail of the scheme?

No, Garda vetting is not a requirement to avail of the ARP.

Who do you contact if you have any questions?

The scheme is being administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration. Issues in relation to the processing of applications are dealt with by the Department of Social Protection.

If you have a query on your own ARP claim the Department of Social Protection can be contacted by phone at 0818 70 80 90 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) or by email at ARP@welfare.ie

Other issues relating to the scheme should be directed to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration by emailing the Department at UKRRecognitionPayment@justice.ie

Are payments made under the ARP scheme taxable?

Payments made under the ARP scheme are exempt from income tax, USC and PRSI.

Are payments made under the ARP scheme assessable as means for Social Welfare purposes?

Payments made under the ARP scheme are not assessable as means for Social Welfare purposes and will also be disregarded for the purposes of means-testing in respect of benefits granted by other public bodies.

Applying for ARP if you are the tenant in your property

The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 introduced changes to the scheme’s eligibility criteria. From 3 March 2026, tenants in rental properties are no longer eligible to apply for the scheme.

Applying for ARP if you are the owner of a property

You can apply for ARP if you are hosting a temporary protection beneficiary in your own home or you are providing accommodation in a vacant property. You must have the consent of all owners of the property. The financial contribution is not intended to substitute rent, and it does not create any obligation for the beneficiaries in the accommodation, such as payment of rent or provision of services.

Whether you need to give your permission if you are a tenant in a property and your landlord wants to allow a person covered under the Temporary Protection Directive stay in your home and claim the ARP

From 3 March 2026, new applications will no longer be accepted for properties that have been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) at any time since 4 March 2022. This means that a landlord or a tenant in a rental property will not be able to host a temporary protection beneficiary in a rental property and claim the ARP.

Required standards that a property must meet

Details of the standards are available online. If you have a particular query on standards, please contact the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration by emailing the Department at UKRRecognitionPayment@justice.ie.

Whether the property will be inspected to ensure that the required standards are met

The guidance on the required standards is available on gov.ie in the form of a checklist. An applicant is required to confirm as part of the application declaration that the accommodation meets the required standard.

Applying for ARP if you don’t have an Eircode

An ARP claim cannot be processed without a valid Eircode.

Eligibility for ARP if you have a holiday home in Northern Ireland where a person covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive is living

Only properties that are in the Republic of Ireland are eligible properties for the ARP scheme.

Claiming ARP if you have rented a property to a person covered under the EU Temporary Protection Directive

Where a rental agreement is in place, ARP is not payable. The contribution is not intended to substitute rent, and it does not create any obligation for the temporary protection beneficiaries in the accommodation, such as payment of rent or provision of services.

From 3 March 2026, new applications related to properties registered with the RTB do not qualify for the ARP.

Compensation if the person covered under the Temporary Protection Directive causes damage to your property

There is no provision for such compensation. This is a matter between you and the beneficiary.

Standard that is being applied to accommodation for person covered under the Temporary Protection Directive

The standard being applied to accommodation is one that has been recommended by the Department of Housing for use by local authorities for the inspection of properties pledged through the Irish Red Cross. Applicants for the ARP scheme will be required to declare that the accommodation meets those standards.

Why a standard other than the RTB standard is being applied

The standard being applied ensures that the accommodation is habitable and that health and safety standards are appropriate while taking into account that the relationship between the host and temporary protection beneficiary is not that of landlord and tenant.

The payment is a recognition of the contribution being made by hosts in response to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis. The rate is not related to any specific additional costs incurred by hosts or aligned with market rent. The RTB standard was regarded as being too onerous in the circumstances.

Checking if your accommodation complies with the required standard

The guidance on the required standard is available on gov.ie in the form of a checklist.

Applying for the payment if you want to offer accommodation but you are not the full owner

The payment will be made to the person making the online application.

The online application form will require the person applying to declare they have obtained the consent of all owners of the property.

Whether there are any supports being offered to assist a person who wants to provide accommodation to a Ukrainian national to get their accommodation up to the required standard

No, it is a matter for the individual to ensure the accommodation meets the required standard.

Standards are available here.

Applying for the payment if you are a commercial accommodation provider accommodating Ukrainian nationals

The scheme was set up to recognise the contribution of people who have offered up accommodation, whether in its entirety or a room, at their own expense. A person providing accommodation to temporary protection beneficiaries on a commercial basis is ineligible to participate in the scheme.

What a person should do if they are living in accommodation that has qualified for a recognition payment but they believe that the accommodation is not of an acceptable standard

One of the eligibility requirements of the financial contribution scheme is that the accommodation meets the required standards – and the applicant confirms this when applying. Those standards are the subject of regulations and are intended to ensure that accommodation qualifying for a financial contribution is safe and habitable.

Vacant accommodation pledged through the Irish Red Cross has already been inspected by the local authorities and deemed as suitable or not to be occupied.

Why the financial contribution is limited to accommodating Ukrainian nationals

The financial contribution is directly linked to Ireland’s response to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis in the context of the Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) which was activated by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022.

Changing the bank account your ARP payment is being paid into

To change the payment method on your ARP claim you must complete a Direct Payment to an Account in a Financial Institution (DIR PMT1) form.

If you would prefer to order an application form by post, you can do so using our online form.

Completed forms can be sent to:

When you must close your ARP claim

You must close your ARP claim when you are no longer hosting a temporary protection beneficiary.

How you can close your ARP claim

You can contact us by phone, email or post to let us know that you want to close your ARP claim:

• phone number: 0818 70 80 90
• email address: ARP@welfare.ie

Postal address:

How you can let us know that a temporary protection beneficiary has left your host property

You can contact us by phone, email or post to let us know that you want to update your ARP claim. You must notify us if a temporary protection beneficiary has left your property, even if other qualified persons remain in the property.

Why the payment is capped at €600

The payment is a recognition of the contribution made by hosts in response to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis. The rate is not related to any specific additional costs incurred by hosts nor is it intended to substitute rent.

If it's costing you more than €600 per month to host people covered under the EU Temporary Protection Directive

The €600 payment is not linked to the actual costs incurred by the person providing accommodation to the temporary protection beneficiary but rather it recognises the contribution of those who host beneficiaries of temporary protection.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, you may be able to avail of the Additional Needs Payment. An Additional Needs Payment is a payment available to you if you have expenses that you cannot pay from your weekly income. You may get this payment even if you are not getting a social welfare payment. It also may be available to you if you are working and on a low income.

Whether there are any supports in relation to the cost of accommodating a person covered under the EU Temporary Protection Directive

While the legislation does not provide for any other supports in relation to the cost of accommodating a person covered under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, you may agree with beneficiaries in your accommodation to have certain costs, such as utilities, covered by the beneficiaries.

The Department generally recommends that property owners and beneficiaries entering into a hosting arrangement sign a temporary accommodation licence agreement to protect the rights of the property owner and the beneficiary, and to protect the property itself. Such an agreement does not constitute a formal rental arrangement, but is an agreement between the host and the guest relating to the terms and conditions of residing in the property. The agreement can include terms relating to the duration of the arrangement, notice periods and house rules, and it can be altered by the host, with the agreement of the guest, to reflect additional clauses as necessary.

If you are accommodating more than 1 person covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive in your home

Payment is in respect of the accommodation being provided to temporary protection beneficiaries and not the number of beneficiaries in the accommodation.

If you are accommodating people covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive in 2 different properties

Separate applications may be made in respect of eligible accommodation. A host accommodating persons covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive in multiple different properties may apply for a financial contribution in respect of each property. Each property’s Eircode will be required as part of the application process.

If the person covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive agrees to pay towards the cost of utilities and other bills

Entitlement to the payment is not affected by any agreement between the host and beneficiaries regarding a contribution towards the costs of utilities.

Whether payments are affected by financial contributions that beneficiaries are making to the household

The financial contribution is not linked to market rental rates. Agreements on contributions towards household costs are matters for the parties.

I am interested in hosting. Who can I contact for support?

The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is funding the Irish Red Cross to coordinate supports for those who wish to enter into hosting arrangements, including a matching programme for private households offering accommodation and Ukrainian people seeking refuge in Ireland. If you would like to avail of these supports, the Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at migrationcrisis@redcross.ie or by phone at 1800 753343. Further information is available at https://registerofpledges.redcross.ie.

Offers of unoccupied homes can also be directed to the ‘Offer a Property for Ukraine’ appeal coordinated by Local Government Ireland. Further information is available at https://offerahome.ie/.