Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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311. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the options available to persons who do not have utility bills to provide their address when applying for benefits; the acceptable ways to prove an address; if an affidavit letter from Gardaí or a politician would be accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39390/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 introduced requirements where new claimants may be disallowed where they fail to satisfy the Minister as to their identity.

As part of the process of authenticating identity, evidence of address is required. Applicants are advised that acceptable forms of this include “a current utility bill or other evidence of address in the applicant's name”. The latter could include a written communication other than a utility bill addressed to the applicant or a formal affidavit from someone with an interest in the property such as the owner or manager.