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

Social Welfare Act 2003
No. 41 of 2003

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
S. 1 19 December 2003 Commenced on encatment
S. 2 in so far as it relates to disablement pension, death benefit under Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993) (27/1993), ss. 61, 61 or 62, old age (contributory) pension, widow's and widower's (contributory) pension and orphan's (contributory) allowance 2 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 2(2)(d)
S. 2 in so far as it relates to carer's benefit, retirement pension, invalidity pension and a relevant payment by virtue of Social Welfare Act 1996 (7/1996), s. 18(1)(a) 1 January 2004  Commenced as per s. 2(2)(c)
S. 2 in so far as it relates to disability benefit, health and safety benefit, injury benefit and disablement gratuity 29 December 2003  Commenced as per s. 2(2)(b)
S. 2 in so far as it relates to unemployment benefit 25 December 2003 Commenced as per s. 2(2)(a)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to old age (non-contributory) pension, blind pension, widow's and widower's (non-contributory) pension, one-parent family payment payable in respect of a widow or widower and orphan's (non-contributory) pension 2 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 3(2)(e)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to one-parent family payment (other than where payable in respect of a widow or widower), carer's allowance and a relevant payment by virtue of Social Welfare Act 1996 (7/1996), s. 18(1)(b) or (c) 1 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 3(2)(d)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to disability allowance 31 December 2003 Commenced as per s. 3(2)(c)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to supplementary welfare allowance 29 December 2003 Commenced as per s. 3(2)(b)
S. 3 in so far as it relates to unemployment assistance, pre-retirement allowance and farm assist 24 December 2003 Commenced as per s. 3(2)(a)
S. 4 1 January 2004  Commenced as per s. 4(2)
S. 5 1 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 5(2)
S. 6  1 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 6(2)
S. 7 in respect of a person who became a widow or widower 3 December 2003 Commenced as per s. 8(2)
S. 8 19 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 8(2)
S. 9  5 April 2004 Commenced as per s. 9(4)
S. 10  19 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 10(3)
S. 11 19 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 11(3)
S. 12 1 January 2004 Commenced as per s. 12(4)
Ss. 13-16 19 December 2003 Commenced on enactment
Schedule A  See s. 2
Schedule B  See s. 3

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Source
Ss. 1-13 repealed with transitional provisions 26/2005, ss. 360(1), (2), 361, 362, 364 (1), sch. 7 1 December 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 923 of 2005), art. 2
S. 16(2) repealed with transitional provisions 26/2005, ss. 360(1), (2), 361, 362, 364 (1), sch. 7 1 December 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 923 of 2005), art. 2

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
None