Farmers on the western seaboard are more reliant on the Farm Assist payment than their counterparts in the east of the country.

New figures from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection show that in 2020, some 5,971 farmers were in receipt of the payment, which was worth €203/week in 2019.

Farmers in Donegal and Mayo are the most reliant on the payment, with 1,045 farmers in Donegal and 994 farmers in Mayo receiving the payment in 2019.

Some 574 farmers in Galway received the payment, 484 in Kerry, 248 in Leitrim and 210 in Roscommon in 2019.

The reliance on the payment along the western seaboard could be as a result of farm system, with suckler and sheep farms the dominant enterprises.

There are more dairy farms in counties in the south and east of the country, which are more profitable and therefore farmers could be less reliant on such payments.

Age breakdown

Of the farmers receiving Farm Assist, 523 are women and 5,448 are men.

Farmers aged between 50 and 59 are most reliant on the payment, with 2,347 falling into this category, followed by those aged over 60, with 1,745 such farmers receiving the payment.

The scheme

Farm Assist is a means-tested payment for low-income farmers. The scheme is open to farmers (you are considered a farmer if you farm owned or leased land with the aim of producing from the land) between the ages of 18 and 66 that satisfy the means test.

The means test takes account of every form of income, such as the sale of produce or direct payments, while account is also taken of the income of your spouse, partner or cohabitant, if relevant, and of any income from property and capital.

Each source of income is assessed in different ways and various amounts are included and disregarded.

The means test takes account of every form of income, such as the sale of produce or direct payments, while account is also taken of the income of your spouse, partner or cohabitant, if relevant, and of any income from property and capital

Expenses incurred are also deducted, with the balance from all sources of income used for the means test. The maximum weekly personal rate for 2020 is €203.

There is a potential increase of €134.70 for an adult dependent, and you may also be eligible for an increase for a dependent child. The rate for a child is influenced by whether or not you are getting an increase for a dependent adult.

If you are receiving an increase for a dependent adult, then you may be eligible for the full rate, but if you are not, you may be eligible for a half-rate payment.

The rate for a child aged under 12 years of age is €36 full rate and €18 half rate. The rate for a child aged 12 and over is €40 full rate and €20 half rate.

Further information can be sought from your local Intreo centre/social welfare branch. A copy of the application form is available to download on www.gov.ie/deasp. There is also extensive information available at www.citizensinformation.ie and a dedicated telephone helpline has been set up to assist farmers with any queries that may have arisen due to COVID-19 restrictions. Call 076 106 4468 (9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm).