What is my PPS Number?

Your Personal Public Service (PPS) Number identifies you so that you can access public services such as social welfare, tax services, public healthcare and education. However, if an organisation asks for your PPS Number and you feel this request is not proper, you should ask the organisation to explain why it needs it. If you are not satisfied with the answer, you can contact the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (see contact details at the end of this pack).

 A code of practice covers the use of PPS Numbers. If you feel a government department or agency has not followed the code, you can complain to the Department of Social Protection or other relevant department or to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

 If you have any questions about your PPS Number, contact the Client Identity Services section at the Department of Social Protection (see contact details at the end of this pack).

 How do I know if I have a PPS Number?

You have a PPS Number if:

• you were born in Ireland during or after 1971;
• you started work in Ireland after April 1979; or
• you are receiving a social welfare payment or using the Drugs Payment Scheme.

What is my PSI?

A Public Service Identity (PSI) is your PPS Number along with other information such as your first name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, sex, nationality, address, all your former surnames (if any) and all the former surnames (if any) of your mother.

Which government departments and agencies can use my PPS Number to look at my personal information?

A wide range of public bodies are allowed to use your PPS Number. These include the Department of Social Protection, the Revenue Commissioners, local authorities, the Health Service Executive and the Garda National Immigration Bureau. 

 You can get a full list of government departments and agencies that are allowed to use your PPS Number on the website of the Department of Social Protection.

 If you have any doubts about whether an organisation or an individual is allowed to use your PPS Number, you should contact the Client Identity Services section at the Department of Social Protection (see contact details at the end of this pack).

Can staff use my PPS Number to access my personal information?

If a government department or agency is allowed to use your PPS Number, then any staff member can use your PPS Number to carry out their work.  However, under data protection laws, the department or agency must take proper security measures to make sure that staff only access your personal information when they need to.  

 Government departments and agencies must have an internal system in place to keep safe the personal information attached to your PPS Number.

Do government departments or agencies ever give PPS Numbers to others?

Sometimes Government departments and agencies need other people or organisations to carry out work for them and, if so, will authorise them to have the PPS Numbers.

 If you have any doubts about whether someone is allowed to have your PPS Number, contact the Client Identity Services section at the Department of Social Protection (see contact details at the end of this pack).

 Does my employer need my PPS Number?

Your employer will need your PPS Number to pay your wages. You must give him or her your PPS Number, as you could pay too much tax if you don’t.  

Does a government department or agency have to tell me if it loses any of my personal information (for example, if my social welfare details were on a laptop which was lost)?

At present, if your personal information is lost, the government department or agency does not have to tell you. However, it will generally make a public statement that information has been lost and will advise people what to do, for example to call a freefone helpline.  It will usually tell the Data Protection Commissioner too.

The same applies to private companies. For example, if your bank loses your details, it does not have to tell you, but usually it will.

What should I do if think that a government department or agency has lost some of my personal information?

You should contact the organisation to find out:

• exactly what information was lost;
• when this happened;
• what steps they have taken to prevent fraud using your personal information;
• what steps they have taken to stop this happening again; and
• whether they have told the Data Protection Commissioner.