There may be some significant differences between the system in Ireland and your home country so it will be worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the system in advance. Ireland has social security agreements with all other EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries. In addition, Ireland has Bilateral Social Security Agreements with the following:

    * Austria
    * Canada
    * Australia
    * The United States of America
    * New Zealand
    * Québec.

EU Regulations have mainly replaced Ireland’s Bilateral Social Security Agreement with Switzerland.

    * The benefit of Bilateral Social Security Agreements is that a person from Ireland or one of the participating countries can protect his or her pension entitlements when working in a country that is covered by a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.

When you come to Ireland, you will need a PPS Number. This number is a unique personal identification number that is essential for applying for state benefits and services in Ireland.

Social assistance payments are payments primarily designed for people who do not have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions to qualify for the equivalent social insurance-based payments.

The social welfare system in Ireland is divided into three main types of payments. These are:

    * Social insurance payments: (i.e., Unemployment Benefit)
    * Means tested payments: (i.e., Unemployment Assistance)
    * Universal payments: (i.e. Child Benefit)

The change from 1 May 2004 now means that you must be "habitually resident" in Ireland to quality for social assistance payments.

"Habitual residency" is intended to refer to a person's regular physical presence in Ireland. This physical presence endures for some time and usually (but not always) began at a date in the past and is intended to continue for a period into the near future.

What this means in practice is that, in general, if you have been present in Ireland for 2 years or more, work here and have a settled intention to remain in Ireland and make it your permanent home, you will satisfy the habitual residence condition. This habitual residency rule applies to everyone, regardless of his or her nationality.

There are five factors are relevant in determining whether a person is habitually resident:

- The applicant's main centre of interest
- The applicant's length and continuity of residence in a particular country
- The applicant's length and purpose of absence from a country
- The applicant's nature and pattern of employment in a country
- The applicant's future intention, as it appears from all the circumstances.

You must be habitually resident in Ireland to qualify for the following payments:

    * Unemployment Assistance
    * Old Age Non-Contributory Pension
    * Blind Pension
    * Widow(er)'s Non-Contributory Pension and Orphan's Non-Contributory Pension
    * One-Parent Family Payment
    * Carer's Allowance
    * Disability Allowance
    * Supplementary Welfare Allowance

How to apply

If you wish to apply for social security benefits in Ireland, you will need to visit your local social welfare office. Staff there will be able to assist you in identifying which payment will be appropriate to your needs. If your social insurance record in another country needs to be accessed, they may apply on your behalf.

For more information on Social Security in Ireland please visit this