Treatment Benefit 2026 — Free dental, optical & hearing for PRSI contributors
Treatment Benefit in Ireland 2026
Treatment Benefit gives PRSI contributors free dental examinations, free eye tests, a €57.23 contribution towards glasses, and up to €500 per hearing aid. No means test — eligibility depends entirely on your PRSI record. People aged 66+ qualify automatically. Your dependent spouse also qualifies through your record. Here is the full 2026 guide including contribution requirements, what each service covers, and how to use it.
Treatment Benefit 2026 — Quick facts
- Dental exam
- Free — once per year
- Eye exam
- Free — once per year
- Glasses contribution
- €57.23 every 2 years
- Hearing aid contribution
- Up to €500 per aid (€1,000/pair)
- PRSI required (under 60)
- 260 paid + 39 in relevant year
- Aged 66+
- Automatic — no contribution check
PRSI contribution requirements
| Age group | Paid PRSI contributions required | Relevant year contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Under 60 | At least 260 paid contributions since starting employment | At least 39 paid or credited in the relevant tax year |
| Aged 60–65 | Not required (no minimum total) | At least 39 paid or credited in the relevant tax year |
| Aged 66 and over | Automatic entitlement — no contribution check | |
The relevant tax year is the second-last complete tax year before the year of the claim (e.g., for a 2026 claim, the relevant year is 2024). PRSI Classes A, E, H, P and S count. Credited contributions (received while on Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit etc.) also count toward the annual 39.
Dental Treatment Benefit — full coverage table
| Dental service | Treatment Benefit cover | Patient charge | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental examination | Fully covered | Free | Once per calendar year |
| Scale and polish (dental cleaning) | Fully covered | Free | Once per calendar year |
| Periodontal treatment (gum treatment) | Fully covered | Free | Once per calendar year |
| Emergency treatment (acute pain, extraction) | Partially covered | Approx. €15 patient charge | As needed |
| Fillings (amalgam or composite) | Not covered | Full private cost | — |
| Root canal treatment | Not covered | Full private cost | — |
| Crowns, bridges, veneers | Not covered | Full private cost | — |
| Dentures | Not covered | Full private cost | — |
| Orthodontics (braces) | Not covered | Full private cost | — |
| Dental implants | Not covered | Full private cost | — |
Optical Treatment Benefit — coverage
| Optical service | Treatment Benefit cover | Patient charge | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye examination | Fully covered | Free | Once per calendar year |
| Ready-to-wear glasses | €42.00 contribution | Cost above €42.00 | Every 2 years* |
| Prescription glasses or contact lenses | €57.23 contribution | Cost above €57.23 | Every 2 years* |
*The glasses/lens contribution can be used sooner than 2 years if your prescription changes significantly. Your optician confirms this at the examination.
Aural (Hearing) Treatment Benefit — coverage
| Hearing service | Treatment Benefit cover | Patient charge | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearing assessment | Fully covered | Free | Once per year |
| Hearing aid (one ear) | Up to €500 per aid | Cost above €500 | As clinically required |
| Hearing aids (both ears, pair) | Up to €1,000 for a pair | Cost above €500 per aid | As clinically required |
| Replacement batteries & servicing | May be covered | Confirm with audiologist | Ongoing |
Worked examples
Example 1 — Employee with 5 years in Ireland (under 60)
Carlos works in construction (PRSI Class A). He has been in Ireland for 5 years = approximately 260 PRSI contributions. He qualifies for Treatment Benefit.
Annual dental save: Free exam + cleaning = approx. €100 saving
Every 2 years: Free eye test + €57.23 toward glasses = approx. €130 saving
If needed: €500 per hearing aid
Example 2 — Self-employed person (PRSI Class S)
Ana is a self-employed cleaner paying Class S PRSI. She has 300 paid contributions. She qualifies for Treatment Benefit (dental and optical confirmed; check MyWelfare.ie for aural).
Annual saving: Free dental exam + scale and polish + eye test = approx. €200+ per year
Example 3 — Dependent spouse
Maria has never worked in Ireland and has no PRSI contributions. Her husband has 300+ contributions. Maria qualifies for Treatment Benefit through her husband’s record.
Maria’s entitlement: Same as her husband — free dental exam, free eye test, €57.23 glasses contribution, up to €500/hearing aid
Example 4 — Person aged 70, automatic entitlement
Brigid is 70 and retired. She has worked most of her life but is no longer required to meet any contribution threshold. She qualifies automatically for dental, optical and hearing Treatment Benefits.
Annual value: Free dental exam + cleaning + eye test = approx. €200/year
Every 2 years: + €57.23 glasses contribution
How to use Treatment Benefit
- Check your entitlement at MyWelfare.ie
Log in with your MyGovID account. Under Treatment Benefit you can see your current status for dental, optical and hearing, including when you last used each service and when you can next claim.
- Find a participating provider
Search at MyWelfare.ie for Treatment Benefit dentists, opticians and audiologists near you. Not all practices participate — always confirm before booking.
- Tell the provider you are using Treatment Benefit
At the appointment, give your PPS number and confirm you want to claim Treatment Benefit. The provider checks your eligibility electronically. You pay only any applicable patient top-up on the day.
- Provider claims from DSP directly
The participating provider submits the claim to DSP electronically. You do not need to do anything further.
EU and international contributions
If you worked in another EU/EEA country before coming to Ireland and your Irish PRSI contributions alone do not reach 260, your contributions from the EU country may count. To use this:
- Obtain a contribution statement from the social security authority in the other country (e.g., a U1 form or equivalent)
- Submit this to DSP with your Treatment Benefit query
- DSP will total both countries’ contributions and assess eligibility
Frequently asked questions
- Treatment Benefit is not the same as a Medical Card — it covers dental, optical and hearing only, not GP visits or prescriptions.
- People aged 66+ qualify automatically — no PRSI check. No need to track contributions once you reach pension age.
- Not all dentists or opticians participate — always confirm before booking using the MyWelfare.ie provider search.
- The glasses contribution applies every two years, not every year — unless your prescription changes significantly, in which case you can claim sooner.
- Fillings, crowns and orthodontics are not covered by the basic Treatment Benefit — only examinations, cleaning and periodontal treatment.
- Your dependent spouse or civil partner is covered through your record, even if they have never worked or paid PRSI.
- EU contributions from other countries can be totalled with Irish PRSI to reach the 260 contribution threshold.
Related guides
This page was reviewed against official DSP and Gov.ie guidance. Treatment Benefit 2026: free dental exam + cleaning, free eye test, €57.23 glasses contribution, €500/hearing aid. Requires 260 PRSI contributions under age 60. Automatic from age 66.
Information Accuracy — This guide has been independently researched and reviewed using official Irish government sources available on the publication date. Government schemes, payment rates, eligibility rules and legislation may change over time. Before making financial, legal or welfare decisions, always confirm the latest information directly with the relevant Irish authority.