Form LA1: Application for Living Alone Increase

What is Form LA1 (Living Alone Increase)?

The Living Alone Increase is an extra weekly amount added to certain social welfare payments when you live alone or mainly alone. gov.ie gives the rate as €22.00 a week. If you are 66 or over it can be added to the State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory), the Bereaved Partner's Pension and some Occupational Injuries payments. Under 66, it can be added to Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.

Form LA1 is how you apply. On page 1 you give your PPS number, name, date of birth, address and contact details. On page 2 you give the name of the payment you get, the date you started living alone and what changed in your household. If you live outside Ireland, an official such as a doctor, solicitor or police officer also completes a short certificate on page 2.

FileIt prints every answer in block capitals, one letter per box, splits the dates into the DD MM YYYY boxes and spreads the payment name and email address over their two rows. You print the form, sign it in black ink and post it to the office that pays your pension or benefit.

Who needs to fill out Form LA1 (Living Alone Increase)?

• People aged 66 or over on the State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory) who live alone.
• People getting the Bereaved Partner's Pension, or Death Benefit or Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme.
• People under 66 on Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension who live alone.
• Anyone whose household has changed, for example after a spouse dies or a family member moves out, so that they now live alone.

When to use Form LA1 (Living Alone Increase)

• When you start living alone or mainly alone while getting a qualifying payment.
• When you start getting a qualifying payment and already live alone, if the increase isn't already being paid.

What you need before you start

• Your PPS number, date of birth, address and phone number.
• The name of the payment you get from the Department.
• The date you started living alone or mainly alone.
• A short explanation of what changed in your household.
• If you live outside Ireland: an official who is not your relative (for example a doctor, solicitor, police officer, notary or consular officer) to certify that you live alone and to watch you sign.

What’s on Form LA1 (Living Alone Increase)

The 2026 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 4 parts:

1. Part 1: Your own detailsApplicant
2. Contact detailsApplicant
3. Part 1 continued: your payment and householdApplicant
4. DeclarationApplicant

How to fill out Form LA1 (Living Alone Increase), step by step

1 Your own details

Give your PPS number, title, surname, first names and date of birth. Each letter goes in its own box, so a space takes a box too.

2 Contact details

Your address over four rows of 20 boxes, with your county and Eircode on the last row, then your landline and mobile numbers and your email address.

3 Your payment and household

Name the payment you get from the Department, give the date you started living alone or mainly alone, and say what changed in your household, for example that your spouse died or a family member moved out.

4 Declaration

Print the form and sign the declaration in black ink, not in block letters, then date it. You also promise to tell the Department when your means or circumstances change.

5 If you live outside Ireland

An official from the list on page 2 who is not your relative certifies that you live alone, watches you sign, then signs, dates and stamps the form.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying when someone else lives with you. You must live completely or mainly alone; gov.ie lists the exceptions, such as a granny flat with its own facilities or a relative who stays only at night for security.
• Leaving out the date you started living alone.
• Writing the payment name in general terms. Give the exact payment, such as STATE PENSION CONTRIBUTORY.
• Signing before the certifying official if you live outside Ireland. The official must see you sign.
• Sending it to the wrong office. Page 2 lists which office deals with which payment.

After you fill it out

Print the form, sign and date the declaration in black ink.

If you live outside Ireland, have the page 2 certificate completed, signed and stamped by an official.

Post it to the Social Welfare Services office listed on page 2 for your payment: College Road, Sligo, or Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford.

Keep the copy in your FileIt vault, and tell the Department if someone moves in with you later.

Form LA1 (Living Alone Increase): frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Department of Social Protection (DSP): https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/75c4196b/20260326_Living_Alone_Increase_-_LA_1_-_English_Version_-_February_2026.pdf_web.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/living-alone-increase/
• Edition shown on this page: LA1, Edition February 2026 (00K 02-26) (checked 2026-10-25).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Department of Social Protection (DSP) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-25.

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