Best EPA Resource for Families Whose Elderly Parent Can't Use MyGovID
If your parent doesn't have a smartphone, can't get a verified MyGovID, or doesn't hold a Public Services Card, the DSS portal's default pathway for creating an Enduring Power of Attorney won't work. The good news: there's an offline route through the manual Identity Verification Form (IDVF). The bad news: the DSS website barely explains it. The best resource for families in this situation is one that documents the full manual pathway — not one that assumes digital access you don't have.
The MyGovID Problem
The Decision Support Service's MyDSS portal requires the EPA donor (the parent granting the power) and every proposed attorney, including replacement attorneys, to have individual verified MyDSS accounts. The most efficient verification route is a verified MyGovID account, which requires a Public Services Card and a smartphone capable of running the MyGovID app.
For an 82-year-old parent who has never used a smartphone, doesn't have a Public Services Card, or lives in a rural area without easy access to an Intreo office to get one, this requirement creates a complete dead end on the standard pathway.
The Law Society of Ireland has publicly criticized this as "over-engineered" and digitally exclusive for vulnerable populations — the exact people the EPA system is designed to protect.
The Manual IDVF Workaround
The DSS does offer an alternative: the manual Identity Verification Form. This paper-based process bypasses the MyGovID requirement entirely. But finding clear instructions for it requires either calling the DSS helpline, searching through multiple pages of the website, or knowing it exists in the first place.
What the manual IDVF pathway involves:
- Using the Identity Verification Form provided by the DSS
- Completing the identity verification with a certified copy of photographic identification and proof of address
- Submitting it to the DSS Information Services Team
- Completing the EPA application through the donor's MyDSS portal; a solicitor may assist under the donor's written authority
The rest of the EPA process — choosing attorneys, selecting notice parties, getting the solicitor sign-off and GP capacity statement — proceeds normally. The manual IDVF replaces only the MyGovID verification step.
What to Look for in an EPA Resource
If your parent is digitally excluded, the resource you choose matters more than usual. Most EPA guides, solicitor websites, and even Citizens Information pages describe the process assuming MyGovID access. A resource worth using should:
- Document the manual IDVF pathway explicitly — not as a footnote, but as a complete step-by-step alternative
- Sequence every step chronologically — so you know exactly when to request the IDVF relative to the solicitor appointment and portal registration
- Include a solicitor preparation sheet — so the appointment covers the digital workaround rather than assuming you've completed portal pre-registration
- Explain what the attorney can do on the donor's behalf in the portal — because the parent not having MyGovID doesn't mean the application can't be submitted digitally
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Who This Is For
- Families whose parent is aged 75+ and has never used a smartphone
- Anyone whose parent doesn't have a Public Services Card and can't easily visit an Intreo office
- Rural families where the nearest PSC appointment is weeks away
- Families where the parent has physical limitations that make smartphone apps impractical
Who This Is NOT For
- Families where the parent has a working MyGovID — use the standard portal pathway
- Situations where the parent has already lost capacity and no EPA is registered — you need a court-appointed Decision-Making Representative, not an EPA
- Anyone looking for a free template or legal document — an EPA requires a solicitor's sign-off regardless
The Time Factor
The standard MyDSS portal pathway can take up to six months for the DSS to process and register an EPA. The manual IDVF may add processing time on top of that, so start early.
This makes early action critical. If your parent has capacity now but is showing signs of decline, starting the IDVF process immediately avoids the situation where the manual pathway's extra processing time pushes the registration past the point where capacity is lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a solicitor complete the MyDSS portal on behalf of my parent?
Solicitors do not have a separate MyDSS portal account for clients. The donor initiates the EPA application in the donor's MyDSS portal, and a solicitor may assist under the donor's written authority without retaining the donor's credentials. Proposed attorneys still need their own verified MyDSS accounts.
Is the manual IDVF available to download from the DSS website?
The DSS provides an Identity Verification Form for people who cannot verify with MyGovID. Families should follow the DSS's current access instructions and include the supporting documentation requested. The Enduring Power of Attorney and Decision Support in Ireland guide documents the identity-verification route and how the rest of the application proceeds without a MyGovID.
What if my parent also doesn't have a PPS number?
The EPA application requires the parent's PPS (Personal Public Service) number, which is different from a Public Services Card. You don't need a PSC for the manual IDVF pathway. Check the parent's GP, pension records, or Revenue correspondence for the PPS number.
Can I start the EPA process before the IDVF is approved?
You can complete all preparation work — choosing attorneys, selecting notice parties, gathering documents, booking the solicitor and GP appointments — before the IDVF is approved. The IDVF needs to be resolved before the final portal submission, but it doesn't need to be the first step. A structured guide helps you sequence these tasks so the IDVF processing runs in parallel with other preparation rather than blocking everything.
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