Information
If you have special dietary and heating needs you may be able to get
additional weekly supplements under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Scheme.
To get a diet supplement or a heating supplement you must satisfy the
specific requirements for each supplement - see 'Rules' below.
Rules
Diet supplement
You can get a diet supplement for a prescribed diet, if you:
- Have a specified medical condition
- Are getting a social welfare payment
- Satisfy a means test.
To get a diet supplement, a hospital consultant or a hospital registrar must
certify:
- That you or your adult
dependant or child
dependant has been prescribed a diet because of a specified medical
condition
- The type of diet prescribed
- How long you will need the prescribed diet.
A gluten free diet for an adult or a child aged 18 to 22
may be prescribed by your family doctor (GP).
In the case of diet supplements, for example, for people with cystic
fibrosis, the long-term
illness scheme book may be accepted as verification that such a diet has
been prescribed. The length of time for which the diet is being prescribed and
the type of diet must be stated.
Diets that qualify for the diet supplement
The weekly cost of each prescribed diet is set by the Department of Social
Protection. The following diets qualify for the diet supplement:
| Qualifying prescribed diets |
Cost of diet, € |
| Low-lactose, milk-free diet |
65.43 |
| Gluten-free diet |
68.43 |
| High-protein, high-calorie diet |
71.43 |
| Altered consistencies (liquidised) diet |
74.93 |
Heating supplement
The heating supplement is an additional weekly payment to help with the cost
of heating your home. You may get a heating supplement, if you:
- Can show you have extra heating needs because of your age, medical
condition or disability
- Are living alone or only with a dependent adult or dependent children
- Satisfy a means test
Rates
Adult diet supplement
The rate for a single person and lone parent is
calculated as follows: The diet cost as set by the Department of Social
Protection, less one-third of your social welfare payment at the
2007 rate = the diet supplement to be paid to you.
Example 1:
- Paul is on a high-protein, high-calorie diet and is getting a One-Parent
Family Payment. The Department of Social Protection has set the cost of
this diet at €71.43. Take one-third of his social welfare payment
(excluding any amount he is getting for a child dependant)
from €71.43 to get the amount of diet supplement payable. (€71.43 -
€61.93 (or one-third of his One Parent Family Payment at the 2007 rate) =
€9.50 paid as diet supplement)
The rate for a married or cohabiting couple is calculated as follows:
The diet cost as set by the Department of Social Protection less
one-sixth of your social welfare payment at the
2007 rate = the diet supplement to be paid to you.
Example 2:
- Mary is married and on a high-protein high-calorie diet and is getting
Jobseeker's Allowance. The Department of Social Protection has set the cost
of this diet at €71.43 . Take one-sixth of her social welfare payment
(excluding any amount she is getting for a child dependant)
from €71.43 to get the amount of diet supplement payable. (€71.43 -
€51.52 (one-sixth of her Jobseeker's Allowance payment including an
increase for her adult dependant at the 2007 rate) = €19.91 paid as diet
supplement)
People getting Rent or Mortgage Interest Supplement
If you are getting Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement, the
Supplementary Welfare Allowance personal rate for 2007, and qualified adult
rate where applicable, is used to calculate the amount of diet supplement. In
assessing your means, any increases in social welfare payments for children are
not taken into account.
Child diet supplement
The diet supplement rates for a qualified child are as
follows:
- Low lactose, milk free diet = €3.50
- Gluten free diet = €6.50
- High protein, high calorie diet = €9.50
- Altered consistency (liquidised) diet = €13
A child is considered to be a dependant if they are under 18, or is over 18
and under 22 and in full-time education.
Heating supplement
There is no fixed rate for heating supplement. The amount of heating
supplement you get is based on your need as assesed by your Department of
Social Protection's representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare
Officer).
How to apply
To apply for a heating supplement, fill in a heating
supplement form (pdf). The Department of Social Protection's representative
(formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer) can help you fill in the
form.
To apply for a diet supplement, you must fill in an application form. If you
are applying for an adult, fill in an adult
diet supplement form (pdf). If you are applying for a child, fill in a child
diet supplement form (pdf). The Department's representative can help you
fill in the form.
Where to apply
To get a diet or heating supplement, apply to the Department of Social
Protection's representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer)
in your local health
centre.