A means test is a way of checking if you have enough means to support yourself and what amount of social welfare payment, if any, you may qualify for. A Social Welfare Inspector may interview you regarding your means and may ask for supporting documents, such as bank statements or accounts.
What counts as means?
Your means include:
- cash income belonging to you or your spouse or partner,
- the value of savings, investments, shares or land,
- any property you may have, and
- maintenance paid to you if you are deserted or separated.
What does not count as means?
The following do not count as means:
- your own home,
- a payment from this Department received by another member of the household,
- the value of the first €20,000 of savings or other assets,
- money received from a recognised charity (excluding a public or local authority),
- maintenance from a higher education grant paid for you, a qualified adult or qualified children for certain courses,
- income up to a certain limit from rehabilitative employment,
- income from rehabilitative training,
- Domiciliary Care Allowance paid for any qualified children,
- Child Benefit, Supplementary Welfare Allowance or allowances paid by the Health Service Executive for children who the Health Service Executive places in foster care or with relatives,
- Mobility Allowance from the Department of Health and Children, and
- income from casual employment by the Health Service Executive as a home help.
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Note
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It is essential that you declare full details both of your own means and that of your spouse or partner when you apply for a pension. Also if you are awarded a pension, you are legally obliged to report any increase in your means to the Department within a period of three months. If you fail to do so, you may incur an overpayment of pension which you (or your Estate after your death) will have to repay.
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