How to understand your payment breakdown

The following are terms that you might find on your payment breakdown, how to interpret them and where to find more information about them

Flat rate

Your flat rate is the usual amount of money that you typically receive

Arrears

Arrears are money that you are owed, paid to you by the Department

Fuel allowance

Fuel Allowance is a supplement payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating your home during the Winter months

Means

If you are applying for a social assistance payment you must satisfy a means test. All your sources of income (for example, cash income, employment, capital and maintenance) are assessed and it comes off your payment as means

Debt

Debt will be taken off your payment if you were overpaid or owe the Department money

Separate Payment Deduction

If you have chosen to have your payment split between yourself and your partner you will see a separate payment deduction on your payment

Local property Tax Deduction

This is a deduction of your Local property tax from your social welfare payment which is then paid to revenue

Exceptional Payment

This is a one off payment made to you by the Department in exceptional circumstances

More information

More information is available on www.gov.ie