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Social Services

Social services and social protection in Ireland are provided and overseen by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) in cooperation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and local authorities.

Below you will find a summary of the main categories of social services and supports available, along with descriptions and official links.

1. PPS number — your first step

A PPS (Personal Public Service) number is your personal identification number in the Irish state system. Without it you cannot start work, claim benefits, register a birth or access medical services.

• How to get one: Apply in person at your nearest Intreo centre or DSP office. You will need your passport or national ID card and proof of your address in Ireland (e.g. a rental agreement or utility bill). An appointment is recommended.

• Online / postal application: In some cases (e.g. for a child) it is also possible to apply remotely. Gov.ie — Apply for a PPS number

• Information: Citizens Information — PPS number

2. Weekly payments and support for jobseekers

If you have lost your job or are looking for new employment opportunities, two main payments are available:

• Jobseeker's Benefit (JB): A payment based on your PRSI social insurance contributions.

• Jobseeker's Allowance (JA): A means-tested payment where household income and resources are assessed.

• Official application portal: MyWelfare.ie — the government's e-services portal for applying for payments online.

• Information: Citizens Information — Unemployed People

3. Support for families and children

• Child Benefit: A monthly state payment for each child up to the age of 18 (or up to 19 if in full-time education).

• Working Family Payment (WFP): A weekly top-up payment for families with low incomes where at least one parent works at least 38 hours per fortnight.

• One-Parent Family Payment (OFP): A payment for parents who are raising children alone up to age 7.

• Links and forms: Gov.ie — Social Welfare Services

4. Illness, disability and care services

• Illness Benefit: A payment for employees who are temporarily unable to work due to illness (a medical certificate is required).

• Disability Allowance: A weekly payment for people with a long-term physical or mental disability.

• Carer's Allowance / Carer's Benefit: Payment and support for people providing full-time care to a family member or a person with special needs.

• HSE Community Care Services: Local HSE services providing home care (Home Support Services), occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social worker consultations.

• Information: Citizens Information — Disability and Carers

• Medical Card: People on low incomes may qualify for a Medical Card, which covers GP visits, hospital care and prescription medicines free of charge. Apply online at mymedicalcard.ie or in person at an HSE office.

• GP Visit Card: If you do not qualify for a full Medical Card, you may be eligible for a GP Visit Card, which covers free GP visits. Citizens Information — GP Visit Card

• Information: Citizens Information — Medical Card

5. Housing and additional financial support (Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme)

If you find yourself in sudden financial difficulty or your income does not cover basic needs:

• Additional Needs Payment: A once-off or regular payment for urgent and unexpected expenses (e.g. clothing, household setup, high utility bills or funeral costs).

• Rent Supplement: A payment to help cover rent in special or emergency situations (generally replaced by the HAP payment).

• HAP (Housing Assistance Payment): The main long-term housing support for people on low incomes who are on a local authority housing list. The tenant pays a contribution directly to the council; the council pays the landlord the remainder. Citizens Information — HAP

• How to apply: Contact your local Community Welfare Officer (CWO) through your nearest Intreo or Social Welfare office.

• Information: Gov.ie — Additional Needs Payment

6. State pension and services for older people

• State Pension (Contributory): A pension based on PRSI contributions accumulated over your working life.

• State Pension (Non-Contributory): A means-tested pension for people who do not have sufficient PRSI contributions.

• Free Travel Scheme: A free public transport pass for people aged 66 and over, and certain other groups.

• PRSI contributions and EU coordination: If you have worked in both Latvia and Ireland, both periods of social insurance can be combined when calculating your entitlement to a pension or other benefits (EU Regulation No. 883/2004). For example, if your Irish PRSI record is insufficient, Latvian work periods may count towards it. Citizens Information — Social insurance from abroad

• Information: Citizens Information — Older People

Where to get in-person advice and help

• Intreo Centre / Social Welfare Office:

  Official state employment and social welfare centres in every county and city. Find your nearest office: Gov.ie — Intreo Offices.

• Citizens Information Centre (CIC):

  Independent, free drop-in advice centres across the country, where specialists help identify the right social supports and assist with application forms. Find your nearest centre: Citizens Information Locator.

7. Registering a Birth

• Deadline and process: A birth must be registered within 3 months. Registration is free of charge.

• Where to register: In person at any Civil Registration Office or HSE registration centre (appointments can be booked online).

• Documents required:

  • ID documents for both parents (passport or national ID card).
  • Notification of Birth issued by the hospital or midwife.
  • PPS numbers for both parents.

  → More details, including what Latvian citizens need to do, in the “Birth, Marriage and Death” guide.

• Benefits: Once the birth is registered, the child is automatically assigned a PPS number and the Department of Social Protection begins paying Child Benefit to the parents.

• Official links:

  HSE — Register a Birth

  Citizens Information — Registering a Birth

8. Registering a Death & Funerals

• Deadline and process: A death must be registered within 3 months (it is advisable to do so as soon as possible to settle estate and legal matters).

• Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD): To register a death, a certificate from a doctor or hospital stating the cause of death is required first.

• Coroner cases: If a death was sudden, unexpected or violent, the matter is referred to the Coroner. In such cases, the death registration and death certificate are issued after the investigation is completed.

→ More details, including what Latvian citizens need to do, in the “Birth, Marriage and Death” guide.

Bereavement financial support

• Bereaved Parent Grant: A once-off state payment of €8,000 for a bereaved spouse, civil partner or qualified cohabitant with dependent children (known as the Widowed Parent Grant until July 2025; other conditions apply).

• Additional Needs Payment / Funeral Grant: If a family does not have sufficient funds to cover funeral costs, they may apply for a payment through the local Community Welfare Officer.

• Funeral Directors: In Ireland, funeral arrangements are typically handled entirely by licensed funeral directors (find a list at IAFD — Irish Association of Funeral Directors).

• Official links:

  HSE — Register a Death

  Citizens Information — Death and Bereavement

  Gov.ie — Bereavement Grants and Services

9. For Latvian citizens in Ireland

• Certificate translation / Multilingual Standard Form: A birth or death certificate can be requested in a multilingual (international) format (Multilingual Standard Form) in accordance with EU regulations, removing the need for separate translation or legalisation for use in Latvia.

• Registration of Latvian citizenship: If a child is born in Ireland and at least one parent is a Latvian citizen, the child is registered as a Latvian citizen by applying directly to PMLP; a passport or ID card can then be issued at the Latvian Embassy in Dublin.

10. Gov.ie — Ireland's Government Portal

Gov.ie is Ireland's official central government portal, bringing together information and services from all government ministries, departments and state agencies in one place.

1. Main sections and features

• Services: Quick access to official application forms and guidance on benefits, passports, driving licences, taxes, social housing and more.

• Departments: Direct links to all government ministries (e.g. Department of Social Protection, Department of Housing, Department of Justice, etc.).

• News & Publications: Official government announcements, draft legislation, budget updates and public consultations.

2. Key e-services accessible through Gov.ie

When using Gov.ie services, the site often redirects to specialised government e-service portals:

• MyGovID.ie: Ireland's unified digital identity system. By creating a verified MyGovID account (linked to your PPS number and PSC card), you can securely access all government online services.

• MyWelfare.ie: The official portal for applying for all social welfare payments (jobseeker's benefit, child benefit, illness benefit, back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, etc.).

• Revenue.ie / MyAccount: Tax management, annual tax returns and claiming tax refunds.

3. Useful direct links on Gov.ie

• Gov.ie — Find a Service: Search all government services by topic.

• Gov.ie — Social Welfare Campaigns: Latest changes to benefits and support schemes.

• Gov.ie — Local Authorities Directory: Register and contacts for all Irish local authorities.