Other Allowances

Social Welfare System Treatment Benefit: A range of Dental, Optical and Aural (hearing aids) Benefits are available to PRSI contributors and their dependent spouses. Details of the Treatment Benefit Scheme are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services and in leaflet SW 24 Disability Benefit: If you are unable to work due to illness you should apply for Disability Benefit within 7 days of becoming ill, otherwise you can lose benefit. To qualify for payment you will need to satisfy certain PRSI conditions. You can make a claim by completing a first medical certificate and claim form available from your doctor. Details of the Disability Benefit Scheme are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services and in leaflet SW 9 Occupational Injuries: These are special payments for people who are injured in the course of their work or who contract an occupational disease. There are also payments available to the survivors of people who die as a result of an accident at work or due to a disease contracted at work. The Payments include Injury Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Medical Care and Death Benefits (Survivors Benefits). Disability Allowance: Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. Details of this pension are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services and in booklet SW 29 Free Schemes For Long-Term Ill: If you are getting an Invalidity Pension or a Disability Allowance, you may qualify for the following Free Schemes subject to certain conditions: Free Travel, Free Electricity Allowance, Free TV Licence, Free Telephone Rental Allowance and Fuel Allowance: A complete list of the range of extra benefits and free schemes available can be found in Section 10 of the Guide to Social Welfare Services Family Income Supplement (Fis): This weekly tax-free payment provides support to families who are in employment and on a low income. Details of this allowance are available in the Guide to Social Welfare Services and in leaflet SW 22 Budgeting Advice: The Department funds a number of projects around the country which address the problems of moneylending and indebtedness. Among these are the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and the Household Budget Scheme. Further information from: Mayo MABS I.R.D. Centre Cathedral Road Ballina Co. Mayo Tel: (096) 72902 Money Adviser - Ms. Dolores O’Boyle Administration - Ms. Lorraine Sheeran Castlebar MABS Humbert Mall Castlebar Tel: 28888 Galway MABS - North Social Services Centre Dublin Road Tuam Co. Galway Tel: (093) 24421 Fax (093) 26050 Money Adviser - Ms. Helen McKenna Administration - Ms. Nellie Sweeney Further Information From: Social Welfare Regional Office, Augustine House, Merchants Road, Galway. Tel: 091-5661191 Mayo Jobs Faciliator, Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Tel: 096-70449 Local Social Welfare Information Centres: Social Welfare Office, Bohernasup, Ballina Tel: 096-21377 Social Welfare Office 16 New Antrim Street, Castlebar Tel: 094-23285 Social Welfare Office, America Street, Belmullet Tel: 097-81029 Social Welfare Office, Achill Sound, Achill Tel: 098-45101 Social Welfare Office, Prospect Avenue, Westport Tel: (098) 25333 Other Social Welfare Offices: Social Welfare Office, Cornmarket, Ballinrobe Tel: (092) 41289 Social Welfare Office, Ballyhaunis Road Claremorris Tel: 094-711745 Social Welfare Office, Dublin Road, Swinford Tel: (094) 51208 Social Welfare Office, Upper Main Street, Ballyhaunis Tel: 0907-30181 Detailed information about all of the Social Welfare Services available can be found in the Guide to Social Welfare Services. There is also a comprehensive list of the information leaflets, which are available, free from the Department.