The living alone allowance is an extra payment for people on social welfare payments who are living alone in Ireland. The payment is €22 per week, which amounts to €1,144 per year. To qualify for the living alone allowance, you must be 66 years or over and live alone, and you must be receiving one of the following payments: State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory), Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partners (Contributory) Pension, or Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partners (Non-Contributory) Pension. People who live in sheltered accommodation may also qualify if they are regarded as living independently within the institution, and the Department of Social Protection provides a list of hostels/homes where the living alone allowance is payable. However, people who live in nursing homes will not qualify as they cannot be regarded as living completely or mainly alone.

It is important to note that the living alone allowance is not a stand-alone payment but rather a supplement to a primary social protection payment. Additionally, there are some exceptions to the rule that you must live completely alone to qualify for the living alone allowance. For example, if you are living in an extension of a family members home, such as a granny flat, you can qualify for the increase if you can show that you have facilities to cook and eat alone.

As of November 2022, there is also a once-off bonus payment of €200.00 in the weekly increase payable to recipients of certain long-term social welfare payments, including disability allowance and invalidity pension, who are living alone.