Post
by Brigid from Ireland » Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:03 am
Many of those who have gained Irish citizenship have been getting social welfare for some or all of the time they spend in Ireland.
It depends a lot on individual circumstances, so for example if you have an Irish citizen child you are more likely to get citizenship even if you are on social welfare, as being the parent of a citizen child is a very strong connection to Ireland.
Social welfare is less likely to be a problem if it is not taken every week for many years. So for example you work, then you lose your job and are take social welfare unemployment for four months, then you go back to work - this is seen as reasonable, as anyone may lose their job.
But there are those who are on social welfare for all of their time in Ireland, and they still get Irish citizenship (usually they have Irish citizen children and have lived here many years).
BL