Disclaimer:
Please note the above information is based on government guidelines and information circulated on or before 27th of March 2020. It is not intended as and should not be considered to be legal advice. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland disclaims any legal responsibility for the content or the accuracy of the information provided; MRCI is not a practising law centre.
MRCI is a national charitable organisation working for justice, empowerment, and equality for migrants and their families. Our services are free, safe and confidential. We are an independent Non-Governmental Organisation, and we do not represent or work for any government or state agency.
Firewall:
The Irish Government has confirmed to MRCI that all people – documented or undocumented – can apply for hardship payments and access information from social welfare services free from fear during COVID19. You will need to give the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) personal information to apply for hardship payments. These services will not share your information with the Department of Justice and Equality during COVID19. It is safe to apply.
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has confirmed that this payment is available for:
- Employees and self-employed people who lost their job or have been laid off due to the COVID-19
AND
- Employees and self-employed people who have a valid PPSN number
Payment is made by electronic transfer (e.g. into your bank or credit union account) and only into accounts held in Irish financial institutions. Those applying on or after 8th April can also choose to collect their payment in a post office. They can nominate their local post office when applying online and they will need to bring a form of ID with them when collecting their payment at the post office. Payments will be made into a bank/credit union account or to a nominated post office every Tuesday once an application is processed.
To download the form or apply online please go here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/
If I have valid immigration status, active PPSN and I paid tax with my recent employer, can I get extra social welfare support for my dependent children and spouse/partner?
If you have one adult dependent and one or more dependant children, you should claim a Jobseeker’s Payment instead of the COVID-19 Pandemic Payment. This is because you can claim an additional allowance for your adult dependant and child dependants, which will bring your weekly payment to in excess of the €350 weekly payment due under the emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
To download form click here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/1221b0-jobseekers-benefit/
Am I eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment if I lost my job due to COVID-19, but I do not have a PPSN?
No. You must apply for a PPS number first.
To avail of any social welfare payments, you need to have a PPS number.
How do I apply for PPSN in the current situation?
You can now apply for a PPSN online.
To get a PPS number, you need to submit scanned images or photographs of the each of the following:
- Completed REG1 form.
This form is available at the following link https://psc.gov.ie/application-form-for-a-personal-
public-service-number/
2. Identity Document (e.g. Passport, Driving Licence, ID card)
3. Proof of address, (Utility bill, a letter from landlord, etc.)The following are accepted, as proof of address. If using any of the following, the document must show your name and address and not be older than 3 months:
- household utility bill
- an official letter or document
- a financial statement
- property lease or tenancy agreement
- confirmation of address by a third party such as a hotel or hostel administrator or manager, school principal or property owner (say, landlord).
- If you are staying with friends or relatives, an original household bill plus a note from the bill holder confirming their residency at the billing address is acceptable. This note can be written on the bill itself.
If you are looking for PPS number in order to access medical services upon recommendation by your GP, a supporting note from your GP outlining reasons why PPS number is required will be beneficial for the application process.
If you are looking for PPS number in order to access social welfare services and/or Pandemic Payment, a letter from your employer confirming you had been laid off, dismissed or placed on a short time due to COVID-19 will be beneficial for the application process. If you are unable to get a supporting document from your employer, you might need to write a letter yourself explaining your financial and family circumstances and why you require social assistance.
The above documents should be scanned/photographed and emailed to PPSN@welfare.ie.
Alternatively, scanned copies or photographs can be posted to PPSN Allocation, CIS Registration, DEASP, Shannon Lodge, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, N41 KD81.
Customers should ensure that all the documents they are sending are legible. The Department will issue the PPSN by post to the customer’s address.
If I am undocumented can I apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment?
The Department has advised that everyone affected by the Covid-19 who satisfies the below criteria, can apply for the payment irrespective of their immigration status.
- Employees and self-employed people who lost their job or have been laid off due to the COVID-19
AND
- Employees and self-employed people who have a valid PPSN number and an active personal Irish bank account
To download the form or apply online please go here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/
I am a student on a stamp 2 and I lost my job, can I apply for Pandemic Unemployment Payment?
Yes.
The Department has advised that everyone affected by the Covid-19 (including international students) who satisfies the below criteria, could apply irrespective of their immigration status.
- Employees and self-employed people who lost their job or have been laid off due to the COVID-19
AND
- Employees and self-employed people who have a valid PPSN number and an active personal Irish bank account
To download the form or apply online please go here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/
I am a student and just recently arrived in Ireland but I have never worked here, can I apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment?
No. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is only for those who lost their job or have been laid off due to Covid-19. However, if you have a valid PPSN already you can try to apply for an Exceptional Needs Payment or Urgent Needs Payment.
An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
For example, the payment can be for bedding or cooking utensils for someone setting up a home for the first time, visiting relatives in hospital or prison, funeral costs or for clothing in exceptional circumstances.
An Urgent Needs Payment (UNP) is a once-off payment made to persons, including those who may not normally qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time.
Examples of this would be to meet immediate needs, such as food, clothing or shelter in the aftermath of a fire, flood or other emergency events.
Both payments are administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the Department and are discretionary. Each case will be reviewed individually, and there is no automatic right to the payment.
You can apply for any of these payments by post and by attending local community welfare office.
To apply by post:
1. Download the Supplementary Welfare Form online following this link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/36e514-supplementary-welfare-allowance
2. Fill in the form and send it by post to your local Community Welfare Office.
To find your local community welfare officer, please go here:
Tip: In the “PART 10 OTHER INFORMATION” state what type of assistance you are looking for Exceptional Needs Payment or Urgent Needs Payment and explanation about your current financial and family situation.
3. To help process your claim, you should include the following if available:
⦁ Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers for yourself, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and your children
⦁ proof of address (any bill, tenancy agreement, bank statement, tax documents or any official document in your name)
⦁ proof of identity, for example, a Public Services Card (if you have one), a passport, driving licence, National ID, birth certificate etc.
⦁ documents to show your income and financial situation, such bank statements
To learn more about Exceptional Needs Payment, please go here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/80b24c-exceptional-needs-payments-swa/
To learn more about Urgent Needs Payment, please go here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/19ef0f-urgent-needs-payments-swa/
What payment can I apply for if I have not worked in Ireland yet but can’t find a job due to Covid-19 now?
To avail of any social welfare payments, you need to have a PPS number first. If you have a valid PPS number and you are in the financial hardship, you can try to apply for an Exceptional Needs Payment or Urgent Needs Payment.
An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
For example, the payment can be for bedding or cooking utensils for someone setting up a home for the first time, visiting relatives in hospital or prison, funeral costs or for clothing in exceptional circumstances.
An Urgent Needs Payment (UNP) is a once-off payment made to persons, including those who may not normally qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time.
Examples of this would be to meet immediate needs, such as food, clothing or shelter in the aftermath of a fire, flood or other emergency events.
Both payments are administered by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the Department and are discretionary. Each case will be reviewed individually, and there is no automatic right to the payment.
You can apply for any of these payments by post and by attending local community welfare office.
To apply by post:
1. Download the Supplementary Welfare Form online following this link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/36e514-supplementary-welfare-allowance
2. Fill in the form and send it by post to your local Community Welfare Office.
To find your local community welfare officer, please go here:
Tip: In the “PART 10 OTHER INFORMATION” state what type of assistance you are looking for Exceptional Needs Payment or Urgent Needs Payment and explanation about your current financial and family situation.
3. To help process your claim, you should include the following if available:
⦁ Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers for yourself, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and your children
⦁ proof of address (any bill, tenancy agreement, bank statement, tax documents or any official document in your name)
⦁ proof of identity, for example, a Public Services Card (if you have one), a passport, driving licence, National ID, birth certificate etc.
⦁ documents to show your income and financial situation, such bank statements
To learn more about Exceptional Needs Payment, please go here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/80b24c-exceptional-needs-payments-swa/
To learn more about Urgent Needs Payment, please go here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/19ef0f-urgent-needs-payments-swa/
Can I avail any payments if I am undocumented, do not have a PPS number and have never worked in Ireland?
No. To qualify for any payments, you need to get a PPS number first by applying online. Once you will get a PPS number and you are in the financial hardship, you can try to apply for an Exceptional Needs Payment or Urgent Needs Payment.
To learn more about Exceptional Needs Payment, please go here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/80b24c-exceptional-needs-payments-swa/
To learn more about Urgent Needs Payment, please go here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/19ef0f-urgent-needs-payments-swa/
MRCI will continue to monitor updates from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) and the Department of Justice and Equality. Please follow our social media accounts and website for the latest information.
