Department of Social Protection Payments
Post office safety measures
Post Offices are implementing a number of practical measures to safeguard customers and staff including the provision of hand sanitiser, upgraded social distancing measures and dedicated hours for vulnerable customers on traditional pension payments days. Display boards, floor signs and staff will remind customers to remain apart from other people and wear face coverings while in the post office
All post offices will designate the hours of 9am-11am on the regular Pension Friday payment days to those deemed most vulnerable and at risk in terms of Covid-19. The new arrangement will cover recipients of Pensions, Disability and Carers Payments from the Department of Social Protection.
An Post will keep all customers up-to-date through this website and via Twitter.
Temporary Agent Form
In the event of a customer not being able to collect their DSP payment personally at the Post Office a nominated person (Temporary Agent) can be nominated to collect the payment on their behalf,
download temporary agent form.
When collecting a payment, a ‘Temporary Agent’ must produce the recipient's card as issued by the DSP as well as their own valid photo I.D. e.g current Passport, Driving Licence or Public Service Card.
To become a Temporary Agent, the recipient must complete the required form which is available from the Post Office.
DSP schemes validity periods
The expiry date on the majority of social welfare payments is 90 days, with the exception of the below payments which are now 20 days:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Benefit (self-employed)
- One-parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
- Farm Assist
- Back To Work Enterprise Allowance
- Back To Work Family Dividend
- Pandemic Unemployment Payment
- SWA, including Supplements and ENPs (SWA-ENP5 has an expiriy date of 63 days)
- Youth Employment Support Scheme
- Part-time Job Incentive
- Short Term Enterprise Allowance
Please contact your local Welfare Office, relevant DSP section or www.mywelfare.ie if you have queries about specific payments.
Post office opening hours
As a result of the latest public health measures opening hours for some post offices have changed. Check the opening hours for your local post office on our map.
All post offices will designate the hours of 9am-11am on Pension Friday payment days for vulnerable and at risk customers.
Post offices map
Post office opening hours
Post offices are open for business as usual and special arrangements for post office customers unable to collect their regular DSP payments (e.g. Pensions) are now in place. A nominated Temporary Agent may collect the payment on their behalf, on production of the necessary ID and documentation – Details at the Post Office.
Download appointment of temporary agent application form
We recommend that you contact the relevant Welfare office. This may be your local Intreo office or the Pensions Office in Sligo, depending on the scheme. For further information, please see gov.ie/welfare
Selected post office payments will be available for collection for up to 90 days or 20 days after they are first due for collection.
For specific payments, see DSP schemes validity periods