€22 a week is €1,144 a year. It is not added automatically: you fill in a Living Alone Increase form and send it to the section that pays your main payment.
Quick facts
- Rate (2026)
- €22 a week
- Automatic?
- No, you apply
- 66 and over
- State Pensions, Bereaved Partner's Pension and others
- Under 66
- Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Incapacity Supplement
- Granny flat
- Can count
- Also unlocks
- Telephone Support Allowance, €2.50 a week
Which payments it goes with
If you are 66 or over and live alone, with one of these:
- State Pension (Contributory) or State Pension (Non-Contributory)
- Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension
- Bereaved Partner's Pension or Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries scheme
- Deserted Wife's Benefit
If you are under 66 and live alone, with one of these:
- Disability Allowance
- Invalidity Pension
- Incapacity Supplement
- Blind Pension
What counts as living alone
A granny flat can count. "If you are living in an extension of a family member's home - for example, in a granny flat - you can qualify for the increase if you can show that you have facilities to cook and eat alone." You also need your own living room and bedroom.
Someone staying over does not always stop it. You still count as living alone if you are older or frail and a friend or relative stays at night for security only, and does not pay towards the house.
Occasional paying guests, such as during a local festival, are fine. Running a B&B, even for part of the year, is not.
"People who live in nursing homes will not qualify as they cannot be regarded as living completely or mainly alone."
The extra €2.50 that comes with it
If you get the Living Alone Increase and Fuel Allowance, you also get the Telephone Support Allowance. "The allowance is €2.50 per week and is paid with your main weekly payment."
"The Telephone Support Allowance is paid automatically if you are getting a Living Alone Increase, so you do not need to apply for it."
How to apply
"Fill in a Living Alone Increase application form . Send the completed form to the section of the Department of Social Protection that pays your main pension or benefit."
Your Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office or Citizens Information Centre can help with the form.
Common questions
How much is the Living Alone Increase in 2026?
€22 a week, paid with your main social welfare payment.
Is the Living Alone Allowance automatic?
No. You fill in a Living Alone Increase application form and send it to the section that pays your main pension or benefit.
Can I get the Living Alone Increase in a granny flat?
Yes, if you can show you have facilities to cook and eat alone, and your own living or dining room and sleeping accommodation.
Can I get it under 66?
Yes, if you live alone and get Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
Can someone stay with me at night?
Yes, if you are aged or infirm and a friend or relative stays at night for security only and does not contribute to the household financially.
Can I get it in a nursing home?
No. People in nursing homes cannot be regarded as living completely or mainly alone.
- €1,144 — €22 a week × 52 weeks = €1,144 a year.