Q.  I am a farmer but my income from farming has reduced a good deal over the past year. Can I get any help?

24.05.10

You may qualify for Farm Assist, a means-tested payment paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. It is similar to Jobseeker's Allowance, but has a different means test. In addition, you do not need to be available for work to qualify.

To qualify you must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test. The means test takes account of virtually every form of income but assesses it in different ways and disregards various amounts. Different rules apply to income from farming; other forms of self-employment; income from schemes such as the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS); income from employment; and income from property and capital.

If you have dependent children, €254 per year for each of the first two dependent children and €381 per year for each subsequent child are deducted from your means from farming and from self-employment. The difference between your assessed weekly means and the appropriate weekly amount of social welfare payment is the amount of Farm Assist payable.

You can keep your Farm Assist payment until you are 66 provided you continue to farm and continue to satisfy the means test. You do not have to visit your local social welfare office or 'sign on' to claim Farm Assist. You apply for Farm Assist by completing the application form Farm 1, which you can get from the Department's website at www.welfare.ie or your Social Welfare Local Office. You send the completed application form with the relevant certificates and documents to your Social Welfare Local Office (SWLO).

Citizens Information: Buncrana 074 9363496; Carndonagh 074 9373741

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