Stage 1
Food, clothing, bedding, essential personal items. Not income tested
If severe weather has damaged your home, the Emergency Response Payment (previously the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme) provides emergency financial help. It is only open for applications when it is activated after a severe weather event. It runs in three stages, and the thing worth knowing on day one is that the first stage is not income tested. So your income is no reason to hold off asking.
Quick facts
- Stage 1
- Food, clothing, bedding, essential personal items. Not income tested
- Stage 2
- White goods, flooring, basic furniture. Income tested
- Stage 3
- Structural repair. Income tested
- If refused
- Ask about Supplementary Welfare Allowance
The three stages
- Stage 1: emergency payments for immediate and essential costs, such as food, clothing, bedding and essential personal items. This is not income tested.
- Stage 2 — replacing white goods such as a fridge or freezer, flooring, basic furniture and other essential household items. This is income tested.
- Stage 3 — longer-term support for structural damage, including plastering, dry lining and relaying floors. This is income tested.
If you do not qualify
If you do not qualify for the Emergency Response Payment but suffer a loss due to severe weather and your income is affected, contact your Community Welfare Officer for help under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. That is a separate route and a separate decision.
Before you use the water
After flooding, do not use water from a well or other private source until it has been tested or checked. Your local authority environment section or the HSE Environmental Health Officer can recommend a laboratory.
How to apply for the Emergency Response Payment (Humanitarian Assistance)
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is now called the Emergency Response Payment.
Have these ready:
- Two itemised quotes for structural repairs, from a registered builder or tradesperson
Check it is open for your area
The payment only opens for applications when it is switched on after a severe weather event.
Owners apply for structural repairs
Only the registered owner of the property can apply for help with structural repairs.
Send it to the Community Welfare Officer
Send your completed form to the Community Welfare Officer at your local Community Welfare Service.
Apply for structural help within 6 months
Stage 3 applications, for structural damage, close 6 months after the event.
Ask for a review if refused
If you think your claim was wrongly refused, you can ask for your application to be reviewed.
Time limit: Stage 1 applications close 7 calendar days after the end of the event. After that, you may apply for an Additional Needs Payment. Stage 2 applications close 3 months after the event.
Phone, forms and how long it takes
- Ask for a form to be posted to you
- Request a form online
- Stage 1: food, clothing and bedding
- HAS1
- Stages 2 and 3: household goods and structural repair
- HAS2
From the official pages (gov.ie), re-checked every night. Numbers and times can change, so check the official page before you send anything.
Common questions
Is the Emergency Response Payment (Humanitarian Assistance Scheme) means tested?
What does Stage 2 cover?
What about structural damage?
What if I do not qualify?
Check the official sources
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Rules, rates and eligibility change and differ by country — always confirm the current details with the relevant official body before you act.
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