Social welfare in County Donegal

Who claims in Donegal, and who may be missing out

These lines come from the Missing Money Index: the Department of Social Protection's recipients in Donegal (2026, April to June ) divided by the people the payment is for in Census 2022. It is a take-up index, not a count of who is eligible: the Census holds no income. The lowest line is the one to ask about.

• Household Benefits Package: 12,137 get it, against 20,743 people aged 70 or over. Index 92 (100 is the national rate), which is 1,043 people short of the national rate. No means test from age 70.
• Carer's Allowance: 4,964 get it, against 4,040 carers giving 29 or more hours of unpaid help a week. Index 117 (100 is the national rate), above the national rate by 716 people. Means-tested (the partner's income counts).
• Disability Allowance: 6,962 get it, against 7,194 people aged 15 to 64 with a disability to a great extent. Index 120 (100 is the national rate), above the national rate by 1,144 people. Means-tested (the partner's income counts).

From age 70 the Household Benefits Package has no means test, so a county below 100 on that line cannot be explained by income. If you are over 70 and not getting it, the guide is here; if you are a carer, start with Carer's Allowance; if you have a disability, Disability Allowance. Or run the free check and see everything at once.

Intreo centres and branch offices in Donegal

Where you apply for most payments in person, and where your local Intreo office is. Details as the Department's own directory gives them (read 2026-10-14); opening hours are on each office's page.

• Ballybofey Branch Office
  Garvan House, Main Street, Ballybofey, Co Donegal, F93 VFK2 · (074) 9130490 · ballybofey@welfare.ie
• Ballyshannon Branch Office
  East Port, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, F94 HR67 · (071) 9822030 · ballyshannon@welfare.ie
• Buncrana Intreo Centre
  McCarter's Road, Buncrana, Ardaravan, Co Donegal, F93 CH79 · 0818 405060 · buncrana@welfare.ie
• Donegal Branch Office
  Unit 7 Donegal Shopping Centre, The Glebe, Donegal Town, Co Donegal, F94 R2EC · (074) 9740050 · donegal@welfare.ie
• Donegal Social Welfare Control Office
  Public Service Centre, Co Donegal, F94 DK6C · 0818 405060 · donegalco@welfare.ie
• Dunfanaghy Intreo Centre
  Main Street, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, F92 P660 · 0818 405060 · dunfanaghy@welfare.ie
• Dungloe Intreo Centre
  Public Service Centre, Gweedore Road, Dungloe, Co Donegal, F94 WV84 · 0818 405060 · dungloe@welfare.ie
• Killybegs Branch Office
  Bridge Street, Killybegs, Co Donegal, F94 XA38 · (074) 9741010 · bo.killybegs@welfare.ie
• Letterkenny Intreo Centre
  High Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, F92 TPY0 · 0818 405060 · letterkenny@welfare.ie

MABS in Donegal

The free, confidential money advice service. Details from the MABS office finder (read 2026-10-14). The national helpline is 0818 07 2000.

• Donegal MABS (North), Letterkenny
  First Floor, Forte Lynne House, Letterkenny F92 R6NF · 0818 07 2460 · letterkenny@mabs.ie
• Donegal MABS (South), Donegal town
  Donegal Public Services Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, F94 DK6C · 0818 07 2480 · southdonegal@mabs.ie
• Donegal MABS (West) / Iarthar Dun na nGall, Derrybeg
  Derrybeg, F92 KF82 · 0818 07 2650 · iarthar_dhun_na_ngall@mabs.ie

Citizens Information in Donegal

Every Citizens Information centre in the county, with opening hours, is on the Citizens Information centre finder for Donegal. The phone service is 0818 07 4000.

Payment dates and closing dates

Payment dates are national: see when each payment lands, including the weeks a bank holiday moves it. Closing dates coming up:

• 2026-10-16: Community Heritage Grant Scheme. Expressions of interest close for the 2027 scheme.
• 2026-11-30: Pyrite Remediation Scheme. The scheme closes to new applications.
• 2026-12-31: Tax refunds and reliefs — the four-year rule. Last date to claim any 2022 tax relief or refund: the carer credits (Incapacitated Child, Home Carer), health expenses, rent tax credit, flat-rate expenses, tuition fees.

The full list is on the deadlines page.

About these figures

Recipients by county are from the Department of Social Protection's open dataset on data.gov.ie; the groups they are set against are from Census 2022 (CSO). The method, caveats and all 26 counties are on the Missing Money Index. Office details come from gov.ie and mabs.ie and are re-read when this page is rebuilt. Last built 15 October 2026. Other counties: Ireland by county. Every Irish support with its amount, on one page: every grant, payment and tax credit in Ireland.