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Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

Social Welfare Act 1988
No. 7 of 1988

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Ss. 1, 2 30 March 1988 Commenced on enactment
S. 3 in so far as it relates to unemployment benefit 21 July 1988 s. 3(2)(a)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to disability benefit, maternity allowance, injury benefit, disablement gratuity and disablement pension 25 July 1988 S. 3(2)(b)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to deserted wife's benefit, invalidity pension and retirement pension 28 July 1988 S. 3(2)(c)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to death benefit under Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1981, ss. 50, 51 or 52, old age (contributory) pension, widow's (contributory) pension and orphan's (contributory) allowance 19 July 1988 S. 3(2)(d)
S. 4 in so far as it relates to unemployment assistance 20 July 1988 S. 4(2)(a)
S. 4 in so far as it relates to deserted wife's allowance, prisoner's wife's allowance, social assistance allowance and single woman's allowance 28 July 1988 S. 4(2)(b)
S. 4 in so far as it relates to old age pension, blind pension, widow's (non-contributory) pension and orphan's (non-contributory) pension 29 July 1988 S. 4(2)(c)
S. 4 in so far as it relates to supplementary welfare allowance 25 July 1988 S. 4(2)(d)
S. 5(1) in relation to any claim for family income supplement received on or after 28 July 1988 28 July 1988 S. 5(3)
S. 5(2), (3) 30 March 1988 Commenced on enactment
S. 6 6 April 1988 S. 6(2)
S. 7 6 April 1988 S. 7(2)
S. 8 in relation to any period of interruption of employment on or after 4 April 1988 4 April 1988 S. 8(2)
Ss. 9-22 30 March 1988 Commenced on enactment
S. 23 in relation to any claim for disability benefit which is received on or after 6 April 1988 6 April 1988 S. 23(2)
S. 24(1) 25 July 1988 S. 24(3)(a)
S. 24(2) 20 July 1988 S. 24(3)(b)
S. 24(3) 30 March 1988 Commenced on enactment
S. 25 20 July 1988 S. 25(3)
S. 26 1 January 1989 S. 26(2)
S. 27 30 March 1988 Commenced on enactment
S. 28 27 March 1990 Social Welfare Act 1988 (Section 28) (Commencement) Order 1990 (S.I. No. 75 of 1990), art. 2
Ss. 29-31 30 March 1988 Commenced on enactment
Schedule A See s. 3
Schedule B See ss. 3, 4

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision
Rep. (other than ss. 1(1) (4), 27) with continuance of instrs. etc. 27/1993, ss. 300-304, sch. 5
S.17 (b) am. 7/1991, s.13 (2) (3)
S. 19 applied with modifications S.I. No. 208 of 1991, regs. 2, 19, schedule A
S.19, applic. ext. & mod. in cert. circs. S. I. No. 208 of 1991, reg. 19, sch. A
S.19 rep. 5/1993, ss. 30, 41, sch. C
S. 19 modified S.I. No. 178 of 1988, regs. 2, 5(d)
S.20, applic. ext. & mod. in cert. circs. (in pt.) S. I. No. 208 of 1991, reg. 19, sch. A
S. 20(1-7) modified S.I. No. 178 of 1988, regs. 2, 5(d)
S.20 (1) rstrct. S. I. No. 298 of 1989, art, 22 (1)
S.20 (6) am. 7/1991, s.32
S.20 (7) rep. 12/1992, ss. 1 (2), 3, sch.
S.31 (1) del. (in pt.). 5/1993, ss. 38 (9) (a), 41
S.31 (2) del. (in pt.). 5/1993, ss. 38 (9) (b), 41

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 16 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions For Self-Employed Contributors) (Amendment) Regulations 1993 (S.I. No. 137 of 1993)
  Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions For Self-Employed Contributors) (Amendment) Regulations 1991 (S.I. No. 121 of 1991)
  Social Welfare (Contributions) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1990 (S.I. No. 264 of 1990)
  Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions For Self-Employed Contributors) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 62 of 1988)
S. 28 Social Welfare Act 1988 (Section 28) (Commencement) Order 1990 (S.I. No. 75 of 1990)