Older people and carers

Additional Needs Payment

A one-off payment from the Department of Social Protection for an essential cost you cannot pay from your weekly income or savings, such as replacing essential household appliances or furniture. There is no set amount. A Community Welfare Officer looks at your household's circumstances and decides.

Checked against the official pages on 19 September 2026.

What it is

The Additional Needs Payment is a one-off payment to help with an essential cost you cannot pay from your weekly income, savings or other means. It is part of Supplementary Welfare Allowance and is run by the Community Welfare Service.

It is the payment people usually mean when they search for a "white goods grant" or a "social welfare furniture grant". No scheme with those names exists. The official list includes replacing household appliances and furniture.

It includes the Exceptional Needs Payment and the Urgent Needs Payment.

What it is worth

There is no set rate. The amount depends on your household's weekly income, your household expenses and what you need help with.

A Community Welfare Officer decides each case, and payments are at the officer's discretion.

If you get a payment, you may be asked for receipts showing how the money was spent.

Who can get it

You must live in Ireland and have an essential cost you cannot pay from your weekly income or other sources, such as savings or maintenance.

You do not need to be on a social welfare payment. You can be on any social welfare payment, or working on a low income, however many hours you work.

There is no published income limit. The officer looks at your weekly household income, savings and investments, your household expenses and the type of help you need. The Department calls this an assessment rather than a set means test. Other State supports already available to you are also considered.

The income, savings and investments of everyone living in the home are taken into account, not only yours. If an adult son or daughter lives with your parent, their income counts too.

There is no automatic right to a payment. If you have savings or other resources that would cover the cost, you are expected to use them.

The cost must be essential. The payment does not cover non-essential household or personal costs, or costs that another government department or agency is responsible for.

Is there a white goods grant in Ireland?

Not under that name. Searches for a "white goods grant" or a "social welfare furniture grant" lead to the Additional Needs Payment.

gov.ie, Citizens Information and the SWA1 form all say it can help with essential repairs to property and replacing household appliances and furniture. The general rules do not name items such as a cooker or a washing machine. The officer decides whether the item is essential for your household.

The SWA NEWA form, for people moving into their first council or housing body home, does use the words "white goods". Its checklist gives a cooker, washing machine, fridge freezer and microwave as examples.

If your appliances were lost in a flood or storm and the government has opened the Emergency Response Payment for that event, that scheme covers white goods where insurance does not. It is only open for set events, for a set time.

What it can help with

The gov.ie list:

• The increased cost of heating and electricity
• Essential repairs to property, and replacing household appliances and furniture
• Deposits for private rented accommodation
• Furniture, bedding and other items if you are setting up a home for the first time
• Funeral costs
• Recurring travel costs, such as hospital appointments or visiting relatives in hospital
• Child items such as prams, buggies, cots and essential child safety equipment
• Food, clothing and accommodation after an emergency such as a house fire
• Other exceptional needs as they happen

Citizens Information says this is not a complete list. Other essential costs can be covered too.

Moving into a first council or housing body home

If you cannot cover the basic costs of moving into a new home given to you by a local authority or approved housing body, apply on form SWA NEWA.

Help is limited to basic items: bedroom furniture and items, kitchen electrical goods, basic flooring, table and chairs, and living room furniture. The form says exceptionally expensive and unnecessary additions will not be considered.

The council or housing body must fill in Part 9 of the form. You also send the full tenancy agreement, signed by you and the housing body.

Do not use SWA NEWA if you are transferring from one council or housing body home to another. Use SWA1 instead.

What you’ll need

• A verified MyGovID account, if you apply online at MyWelfare.ie
• Form SWA1, if you apply on paper. Use SWA NEWA instead for a first council or housing body home, and add form SWA5 for funeral costs
• PPS numbers for you, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, and your children
• Photo ID: your Public Services Card, or if you do not have one, a passport, driving licence or other official photo ID
• Proof of address, such as a household bill
• Proof of residency where relevant, such as an Irish Residence Permit or an EU/EEA passport or national ID card
• Three recent payslips, if you or your partner work
• If you or your partner are self-employed, the profit and loss account for the last 12 months and your latest notice of assessment from Revenue
• Recent statements from all financial institutions for you and your partner. The SWA1 form asks for an original statement for each account showing the last three months of transactions
• Details of everyone else living in the home, including their PPS numbers and any income, savings or investments. Part 4 of SWA1 must be filled in when you ask for help with a household item
• Proof of the need itself, such as a repair or maintenance quote, or a utility bill

How to apply

1. Check the cost is essential and that you cannot cover it from your income or savings. No backdating rule is published, so apply before you buy the item where you can.
2. Get proof of the cost, such as a repair or maintenance quote or a utility bill.
3. Apply online at MyWelfare.ie with a verified MyGovID account. You give your reason, upload your evidence, and enter financial details for you, your partner and anyone else in the household, plus the bank account or post office you want to be paid into.
4. Or apply on paper with form SWA1. Download it from gov.ie, collect one at any Intreo Centre or Branch Office (no appointment needed), ask for one to be posted to you through the request form on gov.ie, or ask your local Community Welfare Service.
5. Post or bring the completed form and your documents to your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office. You can also make an appointment with your local Community Welfare Officer. If you post it, the officer may issue a payment or arrange to meet you.
6. Funeral costs and emergencies such as fire or flood damage cannot be applied for on MyWelfare. Use the paper forms: SWA1, plus SWA5 for funeral costs.
7. Moving into your first council or housing body home? Use form SWA NEWA and have the council or housing body fill in Part 9.

Key dates and how long it takes

• There is no closing date. The payment runs all year and you apply when the need arises.
• The Department does not publish a processing time.
• No backdating rules are published. The payment is for a cost you cannot meet, so apply before you pay for the item where you can.
• Community Welfare Officers work in 51 Intreo Centres, five days a week. They can meet you by phone, in an office, or by home visit if needed.

Who to contact

If you are turned down

• You cannot appeal an Additional Needs Payment decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
• You can ask for an internal review, where the decision is looked at again. Ask in writing, say why you disagree with the decision, and send as much extra information as you can, such as quotes, bills or anything that shows why the item is essential.
• There is no time limit for asking for a review, and it costs nothing.
• The official pages do not give an address for the review. Ask your local Community Welfare Service, or phone 0818 607080, where to send it.

Things people miss

• You do not have to be on a social welfare payment. People working on a low income can apply, whatever their hours.
• Send proof of the cost with the application, such as a repair or maintenance quote. The officer needs evidence of the need.
• Say clearly why the item is essential for your household. Non-essential costs are not covered.
• Everyone in the home counts. Have the income and savings details of any other adults living there ready before you start.
• Keep your receipts. You may be asked to show how the money was spent.
• It does not cover costs another department or agency is responsible for. HSE aids and appliances, and council grants for adapting a home, are separate schemes, so check those first.
• Heating bills: check Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package too. The Additional Needs Payment can help with an increase in heating or electricity costs.

Common questions