Increase for Living on A Specified Island

INDEX

◊ PART 1 : GENERAL
Description of Scheme
Legislation
Qualifying Conditions
Administration

◊ PART 2 : CLAIMS, INVESTIGATIONS and DECISION PROCEDURES
Claims
Investigation
Decisions
Appeals
Payment

◊ APPENDIX 1 : LIST
List of Islands prescribed for the purposes of payment of the Island increase

PART 1 : GENERAL

Description of Scheme

The increase for living on a specified island (Island Increase) is an increase in weekly payment of certain payments from the Department of Social Protection (see below) who are aged 66 or over and are ordinarily resident on an island off the coast of Ireland. The objective of the scheme is to compensate for the additional costs of living on these specified islands (see Appendix 1) when compared to people resident on the mainland.

Legislation

The legislative basis for the payment of Island Increase is contained in the provisions of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.

Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) (Amendment) (No.4) (Island Allowance) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. 326 of 2001) and Social Welfare (Consolidate

Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Island Allowance) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. 326 of 2001) and Social Welfare (Consolidated Payments Provisons) (Amendment) (No. 5) (Island Allowance) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. 351 of 2005) prescribe the islands covered by the scheme.

Qualifying Conditions

A person will qualify for an Island Increase if s/he

ordinarily lives on an island off the coast of Ireland, as specified in Appendix 1, and
is aged 66 or over, and
is getting one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection:
- State Pension (contributory or non-contributory)
- Blind Person's Pension
- State Pension (Transition)
- Invalidity Pension
- Widow(er)s (contributory and non-contributory) Pension
- Carer's Allowance
- One Parent Family Payment
- Widow(er)s Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme

A person will also qualify if s/he is aged under 66 and is getting one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection:

Invalidity Pension
Disability Allowance
Incapacity Supplement
Blind Pension

A person getting an equivalent payment in another EU country and who satisfies the above conditions may also qualify.

Administration

The Island Increase is administered by the section/office dealing with the qualifying payment. An Island Allowance payable with State Pension (contributory and non-contributory), Blind Person's Pension, Retirement Pension, Widow(er)s (contributory and non-contributory) Pension, One Parent Family Payment or Widow(er)s Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme is administered by the Social Wefare Services Office, College Road, Sligo.

For Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance and Carer's Allowance the Island Increase is administered by the Social Welfare Services Office, Ballinalee Road, Longford.

PART 2 : CLAIMS, INVESTIGATION and DECISION PROCEDURES

Claims

Where a person indicates on the application form for the qualifying payment as listed in Part 1 that s/he is ordinarily resident on one of the islands specified in Appendix 1, the entitlement to the Island Increase is decided upon in conjunction with the decision in respect of the qualifying payment. Persons reaching age 66 subsequent to the award of the qualifying payment are identified by way of a computer scan, and the allowance is awarded automatically.

Investigation of claim

Entitlement to the allowance is decided on the basis of the information furnished by the person on the application form for the qualifying payment.

Decisions

All claims are decided by Deciding Officers appointed by the Minister under Section 299 Social Welfare (consolidation) Act 2005. A notification of the decision to award the allowance is issued to the claimant.

Appeals

Where a person is refused an Island Increase, s/he may appeal the disallowance to the Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D'Olier House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2.

Payment

The payment continues to be payable for as long as the condition of ordinarily residing on a specified island is satisfied.

Appendix 1

List of Islands prescribed for the purpose of payment of the Island Increase

Aran island, Co. Donegal
Bear island, Co. Cork
Claggan Island, Co. Mayo
Clare island, Co. Mayo
Clear island, Co. Cork
Clyinsh island, Co. Mayo
Dursey island, Co. Cork
Fenit Island, Co. Kerry
Foynes island, Co. Limerick
Gola island, Co. Donegal
Illaunmore, Co. Galway
Inchaghaun island, Co. Galway
Inishbarra, Co. Galway
Inishbiggle, Co. Mayo
Inishboffin, Co. Donegal
Inishboffin, Co. Galway
Inishcottle, Co. Mayo
Insheer, Co. Galway
Inishfree Upper, Co. Donegal
Inishgort, Co. Mayo
Inishlyre, Co. Mayo
Inishmaan, Co. Galway
Inishmore, Co. Galway
Inishmulcichy (also known as Coney island), Co. Sligo
Inishnakillew, Co. Mayo
Inishodriscol (also known as Hare island), Co. Cork
Inishtravin, Co. Galway
Inishturk, Co. Mayo
Island Roy, Co. Donegal
Islandmore, Co. Mayo
Lambay island, Co. Dublin
Long island, Co. Cork
Omey island, Co. Galway
Sherkin island, Co. Cork
Tory island, Co. Donegal
Whiddy island, Co. Cork