Pensions
State Pension (Transition)
State Pension (Transition) is a social insurance payment made to people
reaching age 65, who are retired and who satisfy certain social insurance
conditions. The pension (personal rate) is not means tested or affected by other
income you may have such as an occupational pension.This pension is taxable but
you are unlikely to pay tax if it is your only income. State Pension
(Transition) was previously known as Retirement Pension.
State Pension (Contributory)
State Pension (Contributory) is a social insurance payment made to people age
66 or over who satisfy certain social insurance contribution conditions. The
pension (personal rate) is not means-tested or affected by other income you may
have such as an occupational pension. This pension is taxable but you are
unlikely to pay tax if it is your only income. State Pension (Contributory) was
previously known as Old Age Contributory Pension
How to claim an EU Pension from another EEA
Country
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested payment for people
aged 66 or over who do not qualify for State Pension (Contributory) based on
their social insurance record. This pension is taxable but you are unlikely to
pay tax if it is your only income. State Pension (Non-Contributory) was
previously known as Old Age Non-Contributory Pension
Homemakers
People who leave the workforce for periods spent caring can have gaps in their insurance records which can affect their entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory) at age 66. The Homemaker's scheme, introduced in April 1994, allows for periods spent providing full-time care to children up to 12 years of age or an incapacitated person to be taken into account for pension purposes.It does not provide social welfare payments while homemaking.
Living Alone Increase
The Increase for Living Alone is paid to people who mainly live alone and get certain payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. If you qualify, you get the increase with your social welfare payments each week.
Free Travel
Free Travel
Free Travel is available to people aged 66 or over resident in the State and to people aged under 66 also resident in the State who are in receipt of certain disability-type social welfare payments or carer’s allowance. It allows you to use public transport, and a large number of private bus and ferry services, free of charge.
You will get a Free Travel pass automatically at age 66 if you are resident in the State and getting a pension from this Department.
If you qualify for a Free Travel Pass and you are married or co-habiting (that is living with a man or woman as husband and wife), you may get a Free Travel Pass that allows your spouse or partner to join you for free when travelling. This does not apply if you are a carer under 66 years.
Free Travel Companion pass
Certain incapacitated people can get a free travel companion pass if they are assessed as unfit to travel alone. This type of pass allows any one person, aged 16 or over, to accompany you for free, when travelling.
Cross-Border All Ireland Free Travel
Free Travel passholders may make cross-border journeys free of charge between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
If you are aged 66 or over you can travel for free on transport services operating internally within Northern Ireland using a Senior Smartpass card.
Household Benefits Package
Household Benefits Package
The Household Benefits Package is made up of three allowances, Electricity or Gas Allowance, Telephone Allowance and Free Television Licence. These allowances provide contributions towards your electricity or natural gas or bottled gas refill bill and telephone bill and cover the cost of your Television Licence each year. The allowances are applied directly to your bills, where applicable.
The package is available to people aged over 70 who are resident in the State and to people under age 70 who are also resident in the State in certain circumstances. Only one person in a household can qualify for the package at any time.
National Fuel Scheme
National Fuel Scheme
The National Fuel Scheme is intended to help households that depend on long-term social welfare or Health Service Executive payments and are unable to provide for their own heating needs. A household may receive only one Fuel Allowance. Fuel Allowance is paid from the end of September to mid April
Smokeless Fuel Allowance
This allowance helps low income households meet the extra costs of using smokeless or low smoke fuels in certain areas where the sale of bituminous fuel is banned.Only one Smokeless Fuel Allowance is payable to any household.
State Pension (Transition)
State Pension (Transition) is a social insurance payment made to people
reaching age 65, who are retired and who satisfy certain social insurance
conditions. The pension (personal rate) is not means tested or affected by other
income you may have such as an occupational pension.This pension is taxable but
you are unlikely to pay tax if it is your only income. State Pension
(Transition) was previously known as Retirement Pension.
State Pension (Contributory)
State Pension (Contributory) is a social insurance payment made to people age
66 or over who satisfy certain social insurance contribution conditions. The
pension (personal rate) is not means-tested or affected by other income you may
have such as an occupational pension. This pension is taxable but you are
unlikely to pay tax if it is your only income. State Pension (Contributory) was
previously known as Old Age Contributory Pension
How to claim an EU Pension from another EEA
Country
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means-tested payment for people
aged 66 or over who do not qualify for State Pension (Contributory) based on
their social insurance record. This pension is taxable but you are unlikely to
pay tax if it is your only income. State Pension (Non-Contributory) was
previously known as Old Age Non-Contributory Pension
Homemakers
People who leave the workforce for periods spent caring can have gaps in their insurance records which can affect their entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory) at age 66. The Homemaker's scheme, introduced in April 1994, allows for periods spent providing full-time care to children up to 12 years of age or an incapacitated person to be taken into account for pension purposes.It does not provide social welfare payments while homemaking.
Living Alone Increase
The Increase for Living Alone is paid to people who mainly live alone and get certain payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. If you qualify, you get the increase with your social welfare payments each week.
Free Travel
Free Travel
Free Travel is available to people aged 66 or over resident in the State and to people aged under 66 also resident in the State who are in receipt of certain disability-type social welfare payments or carer’s allowance. It allows you to use public transport, and a large number of private bus and ferry services, free of charge.
You will get a Free Travel pass automatically at age 66 if you are resident in the State and getting a pension from this Department.
If you qualify for a Free Travel Pass and you are married or co-habiting (that is living with a man or woman as husband and wife), you may get a Free Travel Pass that allows your spouse or partner to join you for free when travelling. This does not apply if you are a carer under 66 years.
Free Travel Companion pass
Certain incapacitated people can get a free travel companion pass if they are assessed as unfit to travel alone. This type of pass allows any one person, aged 16 or over, to accompany you for free, when travelling.
Cross-Border All Ireland Free Travel
Free Travel passholders may make cross-border journeys free of charge between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
If you are aged 66 or over you can travel for free on transport services operating internally within Northern Ireland using a Senior Smartpass card.
Household Benefits Package
Household Benefits Package
The Household Benefits Package is made up of three allowances, Electricity or Gas Allowance, Telephone Allowance and Free Television Licence. These allowances provide contributions towards your electricity or natural gas or bottled gas refill bill and telephone bill and cover the cost of your Television Licence each year. The allowances are applied directly to your bills, where applicable.
The package is available to people aged over 70 who are resident in the State and to people under age 70 who are also resident in the State in certain circumstances. Only one person in a household can qualify for the package at any time.
National Fuel Scheme
National Fuel Scheme
The National Fuel Scheme is intended to help households that depend on long-term social welfare or Health Service Executive payments and are unable to provide for their own heating needs. A household may receive only one Fuel Allowance. Fuel Allowance is paid from the end of September to mid April
Smokeless Fuel Allowance
This allowance helps low income households meet the extra costs of using smokeless or low smoke fuels in certain areas where the sale of bituminous fuel is banned.Only one Smokeless Fuel Allowance is payable to any household.