Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
595. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the process for service users applying to both the PRSI wig grant and the HSE grant wig allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65473/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical, aural and hair replacement products and services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
The hair replacement benefit is an annual benefit of up to €500 available to persons who satisfy the medical requirements and the PRSI conditions of the Department’s Treatment Benefit scheme.
The payment assists people who have suffered hair loss due to a disease or treatment of a disease such as cancer or certain types of alopecia to purchase a hair replacement product.
Types of alopecia which qualify are:
• alopecia areata (which includes alopecia totalis/universalis, diffuse alopecia areata, alopecia ophiasis)
• primary scarring alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias)
• frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris (scarring alopecia)
• chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium)
• alopecia resulting from surgery or trauma, including burns.
Every new claim for the hair replacement product grant must have medical certification from a medical professional confirming that the customer suffers hair loss due to a disease or treatment of a disease such as cancer or one of the specified forms of alopecia.
When a person meets the medical requirements and wishes to avail of the benefit, they should attend a hair replacement provider registered with the Department and provide confirmation of their medical condition. The provider will check the customer’s entitlement to benefit through the online channel Welfare Partners or by submitting an application form directly to Treatment Benefit Section.
Once eligibility has been confirmed the provider can supply the hair replacement product and make a claim for the grant using either Welfare Partners or a paper application. Spousal eligibility applications must be submitted via paper application and must be signed by the insured person to confirm consent. Once dependency is confirmed the claim can be made as above. All grants are paid directly to the provider. If the cost of the product supplied is more than the grant available, the balance is payable directly to the provider by the customer.
Contracted suppliers may provide a non-surgical scalp hair replacement product once per calendar year. Details of the qualifying medical conditions and the providers registered with the Department to provide hair replacement products are available on the gov.ie website.
In 2024, 4,531 customers availed of the scheme to the value of over €2.25 million.
Information in relation to the corresponding HSE's scheme is available directly from the HSE or from the Department of Health.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
