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

Not in the app. The app 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. The app has no user accounts, no analytics trackers, no cookies and no servers. The only thing it saves on your phone is your progress through the Apply guide checklists. If you choose to email us feedback, we receive that email and delete it 12 months after we receive it. You can even use the app in airplane mode. This website is separate from the app and uses analytics, as explained 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, and Rent Tax Credit figures from Revenue. 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, but the Apply tab walks you through the HAP application in seven stages, from checking you are on your local authority's housing list to your first HAP payment. You apply once you have found a suitable home (or, if you already rent privately and qualify to transfer to HAP, for your current home), either online through the Online HAP Portal or with a form from your local authority (see Citizens Information: HAP). Each stage has plain-English explanations, checklists that save your progress on your phone, and links to the official forms and pages.

Question 5

Is BenefitCheck Ireland available on Android?

Accepted Answer

Yes. BenefitCheck Ireland is available on both iOS and Android, from the App Store and Google Play. Both versions check the same schemes, include the guided HAP application journey, and have the same zero-data-collection privacy.

Question 6

Does BenefitCheck Ireland check the Rent Tax Credit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in version 1.3.0. The app first works through the conditions that would rule a claim out, such as getting HAP, Rent Supplement or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, or renting a cost rental home, then estimates the credit against your income tax for the year. It covers 2026 and the four years before it. For the 2024 to 2028 tax years, the credit is 20% of your rent, up to €1,000, or €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple, and it cannot be more than the income tax you pay for that year (see Revenue: how much you can claim and Revenue: qualifying conditions). The result is an estimate only: Revenue decides every claim.

Question 7

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 8

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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