State Support

• PPS Number
• Social Welfare
• Emergency Payments
• Child Benefit
• Leaving the State
• Direct Provision
• Limerick Citizens Information

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PPS Number

To access public services in Ireland, you need a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) for you and any children in your care. A PPS Number is always seven numbers followed by either one or two letters.

In order to get a PPS Number, you must provide evidence of

• your identity

• why you need a PPS Number

• your address

You can apply for PPSN in Limerick Intreo Centre, address is listed below. For more information visit: PPSN (gov.ie)

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Social Welfare

In order to apply for Social Welfare payments you must go to your local INTREO Centre.

Payments will be paid into your nearest Post Office (An Post). You have to say which Post Office you should be paid into when you are filling out the application form, and your payment can only be collected from there.

An Post is the state-owned provider of postal services in Ireland. They provide a postal service and banking services and are located in most towns and urban areas. See www.anpost.com

Once you have your PPS number you can then apply for your Public Services Card. This process may take several weeks so you should apply as soon as possible. This is a card with your PPS number and your picture on it. You need this card to apply for a driving license and other public services. You can apply for it at the nearest Intreo Office.

Intreo Branch offices in Limerick:

Limerick Intreo Centre
Ukrainian speakers available, you can request an interpreter if you do not have adequate English language skills.

Address: Dominick Street, Limerick, V94 X327
Website: www.gov.ie/intreo
Email: Limerick@welfare.ie / Limerickppsnpsc@welfare.ie / limerickcitycws@welfare.ie
Phone number: 0818 405060
Map: View location on map
Opening hours:

• Monday - 9.15am – 5pm
• Tuesday - 9.15am – 5pm
• Wednesday - 9.15am – 5pm
• Thursday - 10.30am – 5pm
• Friday - 9.15am – 4.30pm

Newcastle West Intreo Centre
Ukrainian speakers might be available upon advance request.

Gortboy, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, V42 RK52
Email: newcastlewest@welfare.ie / DSPLimerickCounty@welfare.ie
Phone number: 0818 405060
Map: View location on map
Opening hours:

• Monday - 9.15am - 5pm
• Tuesday - 9.15am - 5pm
• Wednesday - 9.15am - 5pm
• Thursday - 10.30am - 5pm
• Friday - 9.15am - 4.30pm

Kilmallock Branch Office

Address: Charleville Road, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, V35 FH21
Email: kilmallock@welfare.ie
Phone number: (063) 20900
Map: View location on map
Opening hours:

• Monday - 9.30am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm
• Tuesday - 9.30am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm
• Wednesday - 9.30am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm
• Thursday - 10.30am -1pm, 2pm - 4.30pm
• Friday - 9.30am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4pm

Jobseeker's Benefit

Jobseeker's Benefit is a weekly payment from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to people who are out of work and are covered by social insurance (PRSI). If you do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit you may qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance. For more information visit: Jobseeker's Benefit (citizensinformation.ie)

Jobseekers Allowance

Jobseeker's Allowance is a weekly payment from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to people who are out of work but do not qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit. Jobseeker’s Allowance is a means-tested payment, so your income and/or savings and investments must be below a certain amount. For more information visit : Jobseeker's Allowance (citizensinformation.ie)

One-Parent Family Payment

The One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for men and women under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. To get the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) you must satisfy a means test and you must have at least one child under 7 years of age (exceptions apply). For more information visit One-Parent Family Payment (citizensinformation.ie)

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people who are caring for a person who needs support because of their age, disability or illness (including mental illness). Your income must be below a certain amount to get Carer’s Allowance. For more information visit Carer's Allowance (citizensinformation.ie)

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability. You can get it from 16 years of age. If you are in education when you turn 16, you can continue to attend school while receiving this allowance. For more information visit: Disability Allowance (gov.ie)

Fuel Allowance

Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. It is paid to only one person in a household. For more information visit: Fuel Allowance (citizensinformation.ie)

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme is open from 1 June to 30 September each year. For more information visit: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (gov.ie) 

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Emergency Payments

To access Emergency Payments you must satisfy a means test; that is you must prove you need it and that you cannot afford to pay this unexpected cost from your own income.

You can apply for emergency payments with your local Community Welfare Service that is located in your local INTREO Centre. 

Supplementary Welfare Allowance 

You may qualify for basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance while your Jobseekers payments are being processed or in some cases where you do not qualify for Jobseekers payments. For more information go to: Supplementary Welfare Allowance (citizensinformation.ie)

Exceptional Needs Payments (ENP) 

Exceptional Needs Payments (ENP) are payments made to people for essential but unusual situations which they cannot afford to pay for from their own income. This could be for funeral costs or clothing if you are ill. For more information visit: Additional Needs Payment (citizensinformation.ie)

Urgent Needs Payments (UNP)

Urgent Needs Payments (UNP) are paid for food and clothes in emergencies, for instance when your home has been flooded or damaged by fire. For more information visit: gov.ie - Department of Social Protection (www.gov.ie) 

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Child Benefit

Child Benefit is a monthly payment to support parents and guardians. It is paid for each child who:

• normally lives with you and is being fully supported by you

• is under 16, or under 18 if in full-time education, full-time training or has a disability and cannot support themselves

Child Benefit is not paid on behalf of children 18 or older, even if they stay in education or training.

Child Benefit is paid on the first Tuesday of every month.

To qualify for Child Benefit, you must meet the Habitual Residence Condition. This applies to all applicants regardless of nationality. International protection applicants do not meet criteria but people with status and recipients of Temporary Protection are eligible.

For more information visit Child Benefit (gov.ie)

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Leaving the State

Department of Social Protection assistance payments such as Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Jobseekers Allowance are not payable in respect of periods where a person is absent, whether temporarily or permanently, from the State. However, payments may be administratively made for up to two weeks in any calendar year in respect of periods of absence from the State. On that basis, temporary periods of absence of up two weeks in a calendar year can be facilitated. A person should inform the Department of their proposed absence in advance of travel.

Where a person is living in accommodation provided by IPAS they should contact their accommodation provider to clarify how any absence from the state may affect their accommodation placement.

You must inform your local Intreo Office of any change in your circumstances (moving, going abroad, arrival of partner or children, newborn baby etc.)

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Direct Provision

If you are staying in direct provision, you will receive a weekly social welfare payment, called a Daily Expenses Allowance.

You cannot get other social welfare payments such as Disability Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment, Child Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance.

If your application is approved, you will have different entitlements to social welfare payments and social housing.

Doras has prepared a Guide for people moving out of Direct Provision and into independent accommodation in Limerick that outlines issues around social welfare applications, accessible here: http://doras.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Moving-out-of-Direct-Provision-resource-guide.pdf

Doras can also provide assistance and support to you through this process if needed.

Tel:061310328 Email: info@doras.org Web: www.doras.org

Address: 51a O’Connell Street, Limerick

You can apply for an Additional Needs Payment if you have essential needs that you cannot afford to pay for from your weekly payment.

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