Living Alone Supports

Living Alone Increase

This is available to people aged 66 years+ and living alone.

If you are aged 66 or over and live alone, you will qualify for the Living Alone Increase if you are getting one of the following payments:

· State Pension

· Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension (Contributory)

· Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme

· Desertred Wife’s Benefit

You can also get this if you are under 66 byears of age and getting these payments:

· Disability Allowance

· Invalidity Pension

· Incapacity Supplement

· Blind Pension

You can also qualify as living alone if you:

· Are aged or infirm and have a friend or relative to stay for security reasons at night-time only

· Live alone during the day but stay with relatives or friends at night or if you live alone during the week but have a relative to stay at the weekend

To apply for the Living Alone Increase, you must fill in a Living Alone Increase application form (pdf). Send the completed form to the section of the Department of Social Protection that pays your main pension or benefit.

Telephone Support Allowance

This is an extra payment that helps people living alone with the cost of communications or a home alert system.

The allowance is €2.50 per week and is paid with your main weekly payment. It is paid automatically, so you do not need to apply for it.