Basic Bank Account for Victims of Domestic Abuse

A basic bank account is a current account that offers essential daily banking services. Everyone has the right to open a bank account, regardless of their financial situation. Having your own bank account allows you to manage your money independently. All retail banks in Ireland offer a basic bank account with standard features such as receiving money, making payments, lodging and withdrawing funds, and providing a debit card.

Child Maintenance

By law, parents, whether married or unmarried, must financially support (or ‘maintain’) their dependent children within their means. Maintenance payments can be made weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or as a lump sum. Paying maintenance does not grant a parent access or guardianship rights.

In cases where parents are separated, they can make informal agreements regarding maintenance. If an agreement cannot be reached, either parent can apply to the court for a Maintenance Order.

To seek a Maintenance Order, you can go to your local District Court and request the Court Clerk to issue a Maintenance Summons against the other parent.

Social welfare

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

  • Social insurance payments
  • Means-tested payments
  • Universal payments

With all social welfare payments, you must meet the circumstances that are set out in the rules for each scheme.  If you wish to apply for a particular social welfare payment, you should contact your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office for an application form and an information leaflet. You can also request application forms online.

When you apply for a social welfare payment, you will be asked to supply or register for a Public Services Card. You may also need your Personal Public Service (PPS) number.

Community Welfare Service

Community Welfare Services are offered by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) who work for the Department of Social Protection. Most of the work carried out by CWOs involves managing the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.

This scheme provides additional income to individuals with no income or insufficient income to meet basic needs. Some advice on household budgeting is also provided to clients.

The Community Welfare Service is the point of contact for CWOs. CWOs can provide supplementary welfare payments while you are waiting for your social welfare benefits to be processed. Therefore, it is advisable for applicants to bring copies of bills and Maintenance Orders when seeking assistance

The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme offers a safety net within the overall social welfare system by providing assistance to people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.

The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance to those in need.

There are several payments within the scheme and more information is provided below.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance is administered by the Community Welfare Service of the department.

Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly payment to people who do not have enough means to meet their needs and those of their qualified adult or any qualified children. It may be paid to people who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or to those who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.

Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment for certain people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources.

An Additional Needs Payment is a once-off payment available to you if you have expenses that you cannot pay from your weekly income.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Supplements are paid weekly or monthly to help meet ongoing necessary costs which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

These payments are awarded at the discretion of the Community Welfare Service officer after a consideration of all the relevant circumstances of the case.

Examples of payments made under this scheme include:

  • A heat supplement may paid where a person has exceptional essential heating costs due to ill-health or infirmity.
  • A travel supplement may be paid where there is a recurring travel expense, for example where a person has ongoing travel costs for hospital visits.
  • A diet supplement may be paid to help with the cost of a special diet prescribed by your doctor or hospital consultant. (This is now closed for new applicants.)

Citizen’s Information Centres (CICs)

Citizen’s Information Centres provide a free, confidential and impartial information service to the public on their rights and entitlements including social welfare, income support and rent supplement.

Click here for a list of local Citizen Information Centres.

Telephone: 1890 777 121 (lo-call) Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.

M.A.B.S. (Monetary advice and budgeting service)

M.A.B.S offers free, confidential, independent financial advice. It helps people who are in debt or are at risk of getting into debt. There are offices nationwide. M.A.B.S.s does not lend money, but they can contact agencies such as electricity and gas suppliers, credit unions, banks, etc. to negotiate new debt repayment agreements on behalf of individuals.

More information on M.A.B.S.

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