The aims of the RSS are to provide income support for farmers and fishermen and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The RSS allows low-income farmers and fishermen who are actively farming or fishing, to earn a supplementary income. Benefits of the RSS to rural communities
Categories of work
Participants work 19.5 hours per week and these hours will be based on a farmer/fisherperson-friendly schedule. Annual Leave entitlement will be 10.5 days per year. Eligibility To be eligible to participate on the RSS you must be in receipt of Farm/Fish Assist or one of the qualifying Social Welfare payments outlined below
AND
meet the criteria as set out below for either a Farmer or a Fisherperson. Criteria for a Self-Employed Farmer To qualify as a farmer, you must be farming a minimum of one hectare. You’ll also need to prove that you are actively farming. To do this, provide the following:
Criteria for a Self Employed Fisherman
Any of the following categories can be considered eligible to participate on the RSS:
In additional to fulfilling the above criteria, the Participant must be in receipt of one of the qualifying payment(s) from the Department of Social Protection. Qualifying Social Welfare payments:
Eligibility of children/siblings of a Herd/Flock/Pig Herd/Equine Number Owner:
If you are a child/sibling of a herd/flock/pig herd/equine number owner and you can certify that you are resident and/or working on the farm AND are in receipt of one of the qualifying Social Welfare payments, as outlined, you may be eligible to participate on the RSS on the basis of your parent’s/sibling’s herd/flock/pig herd/equine number.
Please note; there is only one RSS place per Herd/Flock/Pig Herd/Equine Number. Can my spouse participate on the RSS in my place?
Should you be deemed eligible under the criteria as outlined above but you yourself do not wish to participate on the RSS, your dependent spouse can take the available place. Alternatively, should your spouse be in receipt of one of the qualifying Social Welfare payments, but the Herd/Flock/Pig Herd/Equine Number is in your name, your spouse can use your number for the purposes of qualifying for the Scheme.
If you meet the underlying eligibility criteria, and are in receipt of the Non-Contributory State Pension, which includes an Increase for Qualified Adult Allowance, your spouse if under 66 years of age is eligible to participate on the RSS. For further information, you can contact your local SKDP Office:
More detailed information on eligibility and rates of pay is available on the Department of Social Protection website: |
Rural Social Scheme (RSS)
The aims of the RSS are to provide income support for farmers and fishermen and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The RSS allows low-income farmers and fishermen who are actively farming or fishing, to earn a supplementary income. For further information, you can contact your local SKDP Office:
More detailed information on eligibility and rates of pay is available on the Department of Social Protection website: |