Welcome to the website of the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
This site provides information on the role of the Office and the processing of appeals.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office operates independently of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It aims to provide an independent, accessible and fair appeals service with regard to entitlement to social welfare payments and to deliver that service in a prompt and courteous manner.
If you need to make an appeal please click on the following link How to make an appeal
Email: swappeals@welfare.ie
Visit Us: Click 'HERE' for directions to our office
Since 1 October 2011 the Social Welfare Appeals Office deals with appeals relating to Supplementary Welfare Allowance, including Basic Income and Supplements. In the case of Mortgage Interest Supplement, applications made before 1 January 2014 are appealable.
Please note: If you have been refused any other Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment e.g. an Exceptional Needs Payment, Urgent Needs Payment, Allowances in Kind or any other "once off" payment, these are not appealable to this Office. Should you wish to have any decision on these reviewed, you should request a review by a "Review Officer"of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Your local HEO (Community Welfare Service, Community Welfare Officer) (CWO) can provide you with details of the appropriate Review Officer.
Click Here for a list of Schemes which come within the jurisdiction of the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Data held in the Social Welfare Appeals Office is held solely for the purposes of processing an appeal. When an appeal is closed the appeal papers are returned to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP).
Click on the link below for more information on Data Protection