Waterford Leader Partnership CLG implements the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) on behalf of the Department of Social Protection in County Waterford. The RSS is aimed at low-income farmers and fishermen/women. To qualify for the RSS you must be getting a social welfare payment. In return, people participating in the RSS provide services that benefit rural communities. Waterford Leader Partnership CLG has an allocation of 15 places countywide.
What the Rural Social Scheme is
The Rural Social Scheme provides a supplementary income for low-income farmers and fishermen or women who are unable to earn an adequate living.
To qualify for the scheme, you must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment. In return, people participating in the scheme provide services that benefit rural communities.
You work 19.5 hours per week. These hours are based on a farmer or fisher-friendly schedule. This ensures that participation on the scheme does not affect your farming or fishing activities.
If you get a place on the scheme, you are offered a contract from your start date up to the following 31 March. You may be considered for a further term following the initial contract, if you continue to meet all the criteria for the scheme.
How to apply
Please contact christine.rossi@wlp.ie for further information on the scheme and to see if you are eligible.
How to qualify
To participate in the scheme, you must be 25 years or over and getting:
- Farm Assist
or
- if you are actively farming or fishing, you may qualify for the scheme if you are getting one of the following social welfare payments:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
- Disability Allowance
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
- Increase for a qualified adult under 66 years of age as part of your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner’s State Pension (Non-contributory)
You can retain your medical card while you are taking part in the Rural Social Scheme.
Actively farming or fishing criteria
Criteria for a farmer
You must provide proof that you are actively farming. To do this, you must provide a copy of your application for the Basic Income support for Sustainablilty (BISS) for the current year, including a valid herd number. If you are actively farming and have not applied for the BISS, you should contact christine.rossi@wlp.ie for advice.
Criteria for a child or sibling of a farmer
If you are a child or sibling of a herd number owner and you can certify that you are resident and or working on the farm and you are getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments, you may be eligible to participate in the scheme on the basis of your parent’s or sibling’s herd number.
Criteria for a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a farmer
If you are eligible but do not wish to participate in the scheme, your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can take the available place.
Alternatively, if your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments and is actively farming, they can use your herd number to qualify for the scheme.
Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can participate in the scheme, if he or she is under 66 and you are getting a State Pension (Non-contributory) which includes an increase for qualified adult for him or her.
Criteria for a fisherman or woman
To be considered eligible to participate in the scheme, a fisherman or woman must meet one of the following categories:
- self-employed fisherman or woman on a fishing boat that has been entered in the register of fishing boats
- self-employed fisherman or woman whose boat has been issued with a pot fishing licence
- self-employed fisherman or woman who has been issued with a commercial salmon fishing licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland
- self-employed fisherman or woman who has been issued with a dredging licence for shellfish from Inland Fisheries Ireland
- holders of an aquaculture licence
- permit holders for shell fishing issued by a registered cooperative
Criteria for a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a fisherman or woman
If you are eligible but do not wish to participate in the scheme, your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can take the available place.
Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can participate in the scheme, if he or she is under 66 and you are getting a State Pension (Non-Contributory) which includes an increase for qualified adult for him or her.
Rates of payment
The rates of payment for new participants on the scheme depends on your qualifying social welfare payment.
The minimum weekly payment is €271.50.
| Qualifying payment | Rate of payment |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance or Farm Assist | Minimum weekly payment of €244 plus €27.50 top-up. |
| One-Parent Family Payment | Minimum weekly payment of €244 plus €27.50 top-up |
| Disability Allowance | Minimum weekly payment of €244 plus €27.50 top-up. |
| Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension | You continue to receive your pension with a minimum payment of €271.50. |
| Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension | You continue to receive your pension with a top-up of €27.50 (The minimum combined payment is €271.50). |
| Qualified adult on a State Pension (Non-contributory) | Your spouse will continue to receive the increase for a qualified adult. Your rate on the scheme will be the difference between your increase for a qualified adult payment and €271.50. |
Social insurance (PRSI) contribution
A Class A social insurance (PRSI) contribution is paid on behalf of all participants in the scheme. (This may not apply to all participants depending on the top up payment amount received ). You are not liable for the Universal Social Charge (USC) on your payment.
Tax
Your income is liable for tax, although it is likely you will pay little or no tax.
Please contact the Revenue Commissioners regarding your tax implications.
Changes to your circumstances
The rules that apply to your original social welfare payment regarding means also apply to your Rural Social Scheme payment. This means that, if your dependant gets a job, their income will be assessed as means and your payment may be reduced.
To avoid any possible overpayments, if there is any change in your household circumstances, you should inform christine.rossi@wlp.ie as soon as possible.
Operational Guidelines
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
Report on the Review of the Rural Social Scheme (RSS)
On 24 July 2024, Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, Joe O’Brien TD, announced the publication of the Report on the Review of the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), at a launch event in Newport, Co Mayo.
The Department of Social Protection has overall responsibility for policy in relation to the Rural Social Scheme, including eligibility criteria.
What type of work is carried out by people participating in the Scheme?
The type of work carried out by RSS participants includes:
- Maintaining and enhancing various walking routes (that is, waymarked ways, agreed walks) and bog roads
- Energy conservation work for older people and those at risk of poverty
- Village and countryside enhancement projects
- Social care and care of older people
- Community care for pre-school and after-school groups
- Environmental maintenance work – maintenance and caretaking of community and sporting facilities
- Projects relating to not-for-profit cultural and heritage centres
- Community administration or clerical work
- Any other appropriate community-based project
For further information please visit the Dept of Social Protection
