The words, explained

Backdating means getting a payment from the earlier time you were entitled to it. If you apply late, you may not get it backdated.

Also called: backdated, late claim

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Backdating social welfare, Child Benefit, explained, How to claim the €1,000 (€1,150 from January 2027) Rent Tax Credit.

Capital means property you own, apart from your own home, plus savings, investments, stocks and shares. Your partner's capital is looked at too.

Also called: means from capital

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Jobseeker's Allowance when you're self-employed, Blind Pension, Carer's Allowance, explained.

Child Support Payment is an extra amount for your child. It is added to certain payments if your child meets the conditions.

Also called: CSP, Increase for a Qualified Child

From gov.ie. Used in: Child Support Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance when you're self-employed, One-Parent Family Payment.

Cohabiting means living with a partner as a couple without being married or in a civil partnership.

Also called: cohabitant

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Bereaved Parent Grant (€8,000), The Bereaved Partner's (Widow's) Pension, One-Parent Family Payment.

A Community Welfare Officer looks at your income and your costs, then decides if you can get a payment.

Also called: CWO

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Additional Needs Payment, Heating Supplement: weekly help if illness means you need more heat, Domestic Violence Travel Supplement.

The four-year rule means you can only ask for a tax review, or claim a tax refund, for the last four years.

From revenue.ie. Used in: The tax credits carer families miss, Earned Income Credit, How to claim a tax refund.

Gross income is all of your income before anything, such as pension contributions, is taken off.

Also called: gross pay

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Rent-a-Room Relief, Working Family Payment, explained, The Medical Card, explained.

Being habitually resident means you have a proven close link to Ireland. You have been here for some time and plan to stay.

Also called: habitually resident, HRC

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Habitual residence condition, Moving back to Ireland, Jobseeker's Allowance when you're self-employed.

An income disregard is an amount of income or savings you are allowed before it starts to affect your payment.

Also called: disregarded income

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Tuition fees relief, Farm Assist 2026, One-Parent Family Payment.

An Increase for a Qualified Adult is an extra amount added to your own payment for an adult who depends on you.

Also called: IQA, qualified adult, adult dependant

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Increase for a Qualified Adult, Part-Time Job Incentive, Farm Assist 2026.

Intreo is the government service to contact for all help with jobs and with income support payments.

Also called: Intreo Centre

From gov.ie. Used in: Tús, Farm Assist 2026, Heating Supplement: weekly help if illness means you need more heat.

A means test is a check of all your income to see if you can get a payment. Some of your income is not counted.

Also called: means testing

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Domiciliary Care Allowance, Disability Allowance, explained, Over 70? There's no means test on this one.

A means-tested payment is one you may get if you have not paid enough PRSI to qualify for the PRSI-based version of that payment.

Also called: social assistance payment

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Back to Education Initiative, Increase for a Qualified Adult, Habitual residence condition.

myAccount is where you manage your own taxes online, for example through PAYE services.

Also called: Revenue myAccount

From revenue.ie. Used in: How to claim the €1,000 (€1,150 from January 2027) Rent Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, Medical insurance tax relief: how the 20% works and when you need to claim it.

MyGovID is a secure online service that checks who you are, so you can use public services online.

From gov.ie. Used in: Fuel Allowance: €38 (€43 from January 2027) a week toward winter heating, Carer's Allowance, explained, Domiciliary Care Allowance.

MyWelfare is a website where you can use government and welfare services in Ireland.

Also called: MyWelfare.ie

From services.mywelfare.ie. Used in: Fuel Allowance: €38 (€43 from January 2027) a week toward winter heating, The Back to School Allowance, Carer's Allowance, explained.

Net income is what is left of your income after tax, PRSI and USC are taken off.

Also called: net pay

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: The Medical Card, explained, National Childcare Scheme, Applying for social housing.

Your PPS number is your own personal reference number. It helps you use social welfare, public services and information in Ireland.

Also called: PPSN, Personal Public Service number

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Social welfare for Ukrainians, Free dental, glasses & hearing aids in Ireland, Free flu vaccine and RetinaScreen.

PRSI stands for Pay Related Social Insurance. How much you pay depends on what you earn and the type of work you do.

Also called: Pay Related Social Insurance, PRSI contributions, social insurance

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Voluntary PRSI, Money for farm families: every scheme, Free dental, glasses & hearing aids in Ireland.

Your PRSI class is the group you are in for PRSI. It decides which social welfare benefits you can get.

Also called: Class A, Class S

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed), Money for farm families: every scheme, Invalidity Pension 2026.

A review means asking the part of the Department of Social Protection that made a decision to look at it again.

Also called: request a review

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: How to appeal a benefit decision, Heating Supplement: weekly help if illness means you need more heat, Additional Needs Payment.

A social insurance payment is based on the PRSI you have paid. Because of this, it is not means tested.

Also called: contributory payment

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: Increase for a Qualified Adult, State Pension (Contributory), Deferring your State Pension.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office gives you an independent, fair appeal. It checks if you should get the payment under social welfare law.

Also called: SWAO, appeal

From citizensinformation.ie. Used in: How to appeal a benefit decision, Backdating social welfare, Farm Assist 2026.

Your standard rate band is your income up to a set limit. Income in this band is taxed at the 'standard rate' of Income Tax.

Also called: standard rate of tax, rate band

From revenue.ie. Used in: Can I claim tax back on…? The yes/no list, The tax credits carer families miss, Health expenses relief.

A Statement of Liability is a document for one tax year. You get it after you complete your Income Tax Return for that year.

From revenue.ie. Used in: How to claim the €1,000 (€1,150 from January 2027) Rent Tax Credit, How to claim a tax refund, The tax credits carer families miss.

A tax credit cuts the amount of tax you pay. You need to have paid tax from your job to use it.

From revenue.ie. Used in: Fisher, seafarer and naval tax credits, The tax credits carer families miss, Home Carer Tax Credit.

Tax relief gives you back some tax on certain costs. Most health costs get it at the standard rate, and nursing home costs at your highest rate.

Also called: relief at the standard rate, relief at your highest rate

From revenue.ie. Used in: Pension tax relief in Ireland: how much you can pay in, by age, Medical insurance tax relief: how the 20% works and when you need to claim it, Nursing home tax relief.

USC, the Universal Social Charge, is a tax you pay on your total income.

Also called: Universal Social Charge

From revenue.ie. Used in: Reduced USC, Over-65 tax exemption, Is social welfare taxable?.

An assessment period is a monthly period in Universal Credit. You usually get your payment 7 days after each one ends.

From gov.uk. Used in: Help to Save: can you get a 50% bonus on your savings?, Going back to work on benefits in Northern Ireland, Free prescriptions in England, and how to pay less.

Council Tax Reduction is help from your council with your council tax bill. You could get it if you are on a low income or claim benefits.

Also called: Council Tax Support

From gov.uk. Used in: The 5 UK benefits you're probably missing, Crisis and Resilience Fund, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Guarantee Credit is the name for the Pension Credit top up, plus any extra amounts you get with it.

Also called: Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

From gov.uk. Used in: Help with health costs in Northern Ireland, Rates Housing Benefit & Rate Relief, Eye tests, hearing aids and mobility equipment in NI.

Housing Benefit and Rate Relief helps homeowners who are pensioners pay all or some of their rates.

Also called: Rate Relief

From nidirect.gov.uk. Used in: Rates Housing Benefit & Rate Relief, Lone Pensioner Allowance, How to challenge a benefit decision in Northern Ireland.

The Housing Executive provides housing, homelessness, landlord and support services across Northern Ireland.

Also called: NIHE, Northern Ireland Housing Executive

From nihe.gov.uk. Used in: Social housing tenants in Northern Ireland: repairs and rent, Housing Executive Grants, Affordable Warmth Scheme.

A Jobs and Benefits office gives local help with jobs, checking and applying for benefits, getting ready for work and training.

Also called: Jobs & Benefits office

From nidirect.gov.uk. Used in: Finding work in Northern Ireland, Universal Credit for frontier workers living in the Republic, Disability and work in Northern Ireland.

Mandatory reconsideration means asking for a decision about benefits or child maintenance to be looked at again, if you disagree with it.

Also called: MR

From gov.uk. Used in: How to challenge a benefit decision in Northern Ireland, Irish citizens in England: Universal Credit & the Habitual Residence Test, PIP: the disability payment explained.

National Insurance contributions are paid by people who work and earn over a certain amount. You pay them from age 16 until State Pension age.

Also called: NI contributions, NICs, National Insurance record

From nidirect.gov.uk. Used in: National Insurance credits, explained, Voluntary National Insurance contributions, Retirement and the State Pension in Northern Ireland.

New Style JSA is a benefit based on your National Insurance. You may get it if you have paid enough National Insurance.

Also called: New Style Jobseeker's Allowance, contribution-based JSA

From gov.uk. Used in: New Style ESA, explained, New Style Jobseeker's Allowance in Northern Ireland, New Style Jobseeker's Allowance, explained.

Rate Rebate helps homeowners and tenants on Universal Credit pay their rates. You apply online to Land & Property Services.

From nidirect.gov.uk. Used in: Rates Housing Benefit & Rate Relief, Cost of living help in Northern Ireland, Domestic rates in Northern Ireland.

Rates are a tax on your home, based on its value. The money pays for local and regional services.

Also called: domestic rates, rates bill

From nidirect.gov.uk. Used in: Lone Pensioner Allowance, Domestic rates in Northern Ireland, Disabled Persons Allowance.

A sanction is when you lose some or all of your benefits because you did not follow the rules for claiming.

Also called: benefit sanction

From nidirect.gov.uk. Used in: The benefit cap, sanctions and reporting changes in NI.

State Pension age is the earliest age you can start getting your State Pension.

From gov.uk. Used in: Retirement and the State Pension in Northern Ireland, State Pension through your spouse or civil partner, Free bus passes in England.

In Northern Ireland, benefit appeal hearings are held by an independent tribunal. The Appeals Service organises them.

Also called: TAS, tribunal

From nidirect.gov.uk. Used in: How to challenge a benefit decision in Northern Ireland, Attendance Allowance: up to £114.60 a week, Bereavement Support Payment in Northern Ireland.

In England, benefit appeals are decided by the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal.

Also called: Social Security and Child Support Tribunal

From gov.uk. Used in: Irish citizens in England: Universal Credit & the Habitual Residence Test, Funeral Expenses Payment, Child maintenance, explained.

A Work Capability Assessment helps decide how much your health condition or disability limits your ability to work.

Also called: WCA

From gov.uk. Used in: Cold Weather Payment in Northern Ireland: £25 a freezing week, Cold Weather Payment, explained, Employment and Support Allowance in Northern Ireland.