What supports can I get?

State payments

This section contains information on additional state payments and benefits you can apply for based on income type. Click the links below to show/hide the relevant informtaion for you

When on Disability Allowance >>

When on Invalidity Pension >>

When in Full or part-time employment >>

Information on private rental and on Rent Supplement >>

Housing Adaptation Grant

Accessible housing for people with disabilities is vital to living in the community and remaining independent. Sometimes adaptations are necessary in an existing house to make it accessible for a person’s changed needs. Click here to show this infomation >>

The Irish Wheelchair Association provides these services in individuals’ homes and communities, facilitating access to education, employment and community participation.

Having the support of a PA can make it easier for you to do tasks which you might otherwise find difficult and can also facilitate new opportunities.

The role of a PA can include:

• Personal Care
• Support with preparing meals and essential domestic tasks
• Facilitating independence and social involvement
• Assistance to access employment or education

The goal of the IWA PA Service is to promote choice, independence and quality of life for its users by providing a tailored personal assistant service centred around each individual’s needs.

To enquire further about assisted living services contact your local IWA office or local HSE Disability Manager. Click here for contact details of your local IWA office.

Assisted Living Packages

Click here to see the available packages for Assisted Living Supports >>

HSE Primary Care Teams or Services mean all of the health or social care services that you can find in your community, outside of the hospital setting. A Primary Care Team (PCT) is a team of health professionals who work closely together to meet the needs of the people living in the community. They provide a single point of contact to the health system for the person.

Primary Care includes GPs, Public Health Nurses, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and a range of other services provided through your Local Health Office. It is proposed by the HSE that there will be 530 Primary Care Teams in operation by 2011 each serving a population of approximately 8,000 to 12,000. Contact your local health centre to find out if there is a Primary Care Team in your area. Even if there is not a Primary Care Team in your area, the majority of the above services will be available through your local Health Centre.

Click here to read more about Primary Care Teams

Public health nurses in Ireland are employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide a range of health care services in the community. They are usually based in your local health centre and are assigned to cover specific geographical areas. Public health nursing teams provide basic nursing care as well as advice and assistance to their patients. Public health nurses also act as an important point of access to other community care services.

You may be referred to your local public health nurse by your family doctor (GP), by a hospital or you may contact the service yourself through your local health centre or through your local health office.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland often provides a home help service to individuals who require assistance.

Home help services are provided in order to support people to remain in their own home. Home help services usually assist people with normal household tasks although they may also sometimes help with personal care. If you recieve a home help service, you may have to make a small contribution towards the cost, even if you hold a medical card. In some cases, you may have to pay all the costs involved. In practice, the HSE either provides the home help service directly or makes arrangements with voluntary organisations to provide them. To find out about the availability of home help in your area, contact the public health nurse in your local health centre.

Meals on Wheels are widely available, often provided by a community or voluntary organisation on behalf of the HSE. Make enquiries in your local health centre.

Public Occupational Therapy Services

Occupational therapy (OT) services are designed to help people who have a disability (physical, psychological or social) to achieve the maximum degree of independence in ordinary living. Occupational therapists in Ireland are employed by most local health offices of the HSE.

Usually, the occupational therapist carries out an assessment of your ability to manage, in relation to the normal requirements of daily living - dressing, eating, bathing, etc. Your home arrangements are also assessed and a decision is made as to what assistance you need by way of appliances, (for example, a wheelchair, chair lift, downstairs bathroom, etc.) or home adaptation.

The occupational therapist may then arrange for the provision of some appropriate aids and appliances by the Health Service Executive (HSE) or may advise on home adaptation and give information on the grants available for home adaptation, click here for grant information.

You may apply directly to the Health Service Executive through your local health centre for the services of an occupational therapist, but often a public health nurse, family doctor (GP) or hospital will make this referral for you.

Private Occupational Therapy Service

There is a shortage of occupational therapists working in the HSE, and therefore there can be delays in meeting with an OT. Often individuals decide to engage with a private occupational therapist. The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (the professional body that regulates the profession in Ireland) has a list of registered occupational therapists in private practice. You can obtain a copy of the list by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the Association of Occupational Therapists at:- Ground Floor Office Bow Bridge House Bow Lane Kilmainham Dublin 8 Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)1 633 7222 Homepage: http://www.aoti.ie/ Email: info@aoti.ie or in the Access Directory at www.accessdirectory.ie

Note: An occupational therapist working in private practice cannot order equipment through the HSE. If you require a particular piece of equipment and are entitled to be given it on your medical card, then you are best waiting for the HSE OT to visit, even if that will take a while.