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Updated to 29 May 2026 (Act No. 11 of 2026 and S.I. No. 217 of 2026)

Social Welfare Act 2003
No. 41 of 2003

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement 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 Commencement 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