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 every EPA donor (the parent granting the power) and every proposed attorney to have a verified MyGovID account. Verification requires two things: 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:

• Requesting the form directly from the DSS (not available as a public download)
• Completing the paper identity verification with supporting documentation
• Having the form witnessed and certified
• Submitting it alongside the EPA application through the portal (which the solicitor or attorney can navigate on the donor's behalf)

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

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 — 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 already takes 3–6 months for DSS to process and register an EPA. The manual IDVF adds processing time on top of that — typically 2–4 additional weeks for identity verification before the EPA application itself enters the queue.

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 cannot directly access the MyDSS portal on a client's behalf — the system doesn't provide solicitor accounts. However, a proposed attorney with a verified MyGovID can initiate and manage the portal application. The solicitor's role is the legal practitioner statement, not portal administration.

Is the manual IDVF available to download from the DSS website?

As of mid-2026, the IDVF is not available as a public download. Families need to request it directly from the Decision Support Service. The Enduring Power of Attorney and Decision Support in Ireland guide documents exactly how to request it, what supporting documentation to include, and how the rest of the application proceeds without a MyGovID.

What if my parent also doesn't have a PPS number?

Every Irish resident has a PPS (Personal Public Service) number — it's different from a Public Services Card. You don't need a PSC for the manual IDVF pathway. You do need the PPS number, which your parent's GP, pension records, or Revenue correspondence will reference.

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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