Question 1

Is BenefitCheck Ireland free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, BenefitCheck Ireland is 100% free to download and use, no hidden costs, no in-app purchases, and no subscription required. We built this app because we believe everyone deserves easy access to housing benefit information, regardless of their financial situation. The app will always remain free.

Question 2

Do you collect my data?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not. BenefitCheck Ireland was designed with a zero-data-collection policy from the ground up. All calculations are performed entirely on your device using local processing: your income, household details, and county selection never leave your phone. There are no user accounts, no analytics trackers, no cookies, and no servers storing your information. You can even use the app in airplane mode. Read more in our Privacy Policy.

Question 3

Are the calculations accurate?

Accepted Answer

We use data sourced directly from official Irish government publications. HAP rent limits are set in national law (S.I. 56/2017, with the up-to-35% discretionary cap extended nationally by S.I. 342/2022), and we present them directly from that statutory source; social housing income bands and Working Family Payment thresholds come from gov.ie and Citizens Information. You can see every source we use on our Data Sources page. However, housing support rules and income thresholds can change during the year, so we always recommend verifying your results with your Local Authority before submitting a formal application. The app includes a built-in staleness warning if the data is more than 180 days old.

Question 4

Can I use this app to apply for HAP?

Accepted Answer

BenefitCheck Ireland doesn't submit applications directly, but our Apply tab provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide through the entire 7-stage HAP application process. It covers everything from confirming you're on the social housing waiting list, to finding suitable accommodation within your HAP limits, gathering required documents for both tenant and landlord, submitting your application through hap.ie, understanding the assessment timeline, and setting up your first rent payment. Each stage includes plain English explanations, persistent checklists, and direct links to official forms and portals.

Question 5

Is BenefitCheck Ireland available on Android?

Accepted Answer

Yes! BenefitCheck Ireland is available on both iOS and Android. You can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Both versions offer the same features, including HAP calculation, Social Housing eligibility checking, Working Family Payment estimation, and the guided HAP application journey. The app works identically on both platforms with the same zero-data-collection privacy guarantee.

Question 6

Which counties and local authorities are covered?

Accepted Answer

BenefitCheck Ireland covers all 31 local authorities across the Republic of Ireland, from Carlow County Council to Wicklow County Council. This includes the four Dublin councils (Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin), which share the same standard discretionary top-up of up to 35% as the rest of the country. A separate Homeless HAP scheme in the Dublin region can reach 50%, but only for households formally accepted as homeless. Each council's HAP rate limits are set by national statutory instrument (S.I. 56/2017), and we link each authority's official page for reference.

Question 7

How often is the data updated?

Accepted Answer

We update the app's housing data whenever official rates change, typically following government budget announcements or local authority rate revisions. The app includes a built-in data freshness indicator: if the bundled rates are more than 180 days old, you'll see a clear warning banner advising you to check with your local authority for the most current figures. We monitor official sources regularly to ensure updates are released promptly.

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