Understanding the Indicators

Financial Indicator 3 – SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENT

To meet the Social Welfare indicator, your Parent(s) or guardian(s) must have received a means-tested social assistance payment(s) from the Department of Social Protection for at least 26 weeks in the year ending 31 December 2011.

Why we use Social Welfare Payment(s) as an indicator:
Receipt of a Social Assistance payment is used as a proxy for low family income in the assessment of eligibility for HEAR.This is possible because certain Social welfare payments are means-tested and only paid to those who who do not have enough income to support themselves.

What is a Social Welfare Payment?
Social Welfare payments are broadly divided into three types:

  • Contributory payments are based on your Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) record. Whether you qualify for a payment depends on having a certain number of PRSI contributions. These types of payments are commonly referred to as Social Insurance payments.
  • Non-contributory payments require you to satisfy a means-test and be an ongoing resident in the State. These types of payments are commonly referred to as Social Assistance payments.
  • Payments and benefits such as Child Benefit and Free Travel do not depend on PSRI contributions or means.

Only social assistance payments count as indicators for HEAR.

For further information from the Dept of Social Protection website on Social Assistance payments click here.