Supplementary Welfare Allowance and self-employed people

Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) provides a basic weekly allowance to eligible people who have little or no income. You can continue to work in your business and get SWA provided your income is under a certain level. However before applying for SWA you must have applied for any other payment that you may be entitled to.

You can also qualify for other payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme to meet certain special needs, for example, weekly supplements to help with rent/mortgage interest payments or for urgent or exceptional needs. You can read more about rent and mortgage interest supplements.

When is Supplementary Welfare Allowance paid?

Supplementary Welfare Allowance is generally paid in two situations:

• If you have claimed a social welfare payment or pension but it has not yet been paid and you have no other income, you may qualify for SWA while you are waiting for your payment.
• If you have no income and you do not qualify for any other social welfare payments, you may be entitled to the basic SWA provided you meet the conditions. If your weekly income is below the SWA rate for your family size, a payment may be made to bring your income up to the appropriate rate.

If you are self-employed you can get Supplementary Welfare Allowance and carry on working for your business - again provided your income is below the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for your circumstances.

How do I qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance?

You will normally qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you satisfy the following conditions:

• You are living in the State and satisfy the habitual residence condition (except for the Exceptional Needs Payment)
• You satisfy the means test.
• You have applied for any other benefit/allowance you may be entitled to
• You have registered for work with FÁS if you are of working age

You will not normally qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you are:

• In full-time insurable employment, that is, working for more than 30 hours per week
• In full-time education

How is the means test calculated?

In the means test all your household income (including your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's earnings) may be assessed when processing your claim. This can include wages, pensions, maintenance, savings and some social welfare payments. If you are working (you can work up to 30 hours per week in insurable employment) your gross income less PRSI and reasonable travel expenses is taken into account for the means test.

You can continue to be self-employed and claim Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Any income you have from self-employment is assessed in the means test. Some necessary expenses are allowed.

The main items taken into account for the SWA means test include:

• All cash income: including most social welfare and Health Service Executive payments, except Child Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Blind Welfare Allowance. Up to €120 from rehabilitative employment is disregarded.
• The value of any benefit or privilege: If you are 24 years of age or under and you are living with a parent or a step-parent in the family home, some of your parents' income will also be taken into account in the assessment for Supplementary Welfare Allowance. The Department of Social Protection calls this an assessment of the 'benefit and privilege' you get from living with your parents. Find out how benefit and privilege is assessed in the means test .

• The value of investments, savings or property (but not the value of your own home) is calculated as follows:

Your income and any income your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may have is added together when doing the means test.

How much can I get?

The basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is made up of a personal rate and additional amounts for any adult dependant and child dependant(s).

Supplementary Welfare Allowance rates (2013)

How do I apply?

You should apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance to the Department of Social Protection's representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer) at your local health centre as soon as the need arises. You must fill in a Supplementary Welfare Allowance claim form (pdf). To help process your claim, you should have the following:

• Personal Public Service (PPS) Numbers for yourself, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and your children
• Proof of residency
• Proof of identity, for example, a passport, driving licence, work permit, immigration (GNIB) card, etc.
• Evidence of any income you and your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and children are getting
• A note from your social welfare local office and your last payslip if you have just applied for Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance
• Your Child Benefit book or birth certificates for any children you may be claiming for if you do not have PPSNs for them
• Documents to show your income and financial situation, such as, payslips, P45, P35, P60, bank statements, etc.

Appealing a decision

You can appeal against a decision if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your claim. You can appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with appeals relating to basic SWA and SWA supplements but does not decide on appeals relating to Exceptional or Urgent Needs Payments.