Women who have undergone a mastectomy may be unaware of the useful €400 bra allowance you can be entitled to, which can be used to buy new bras and prosthetics
Woman with a various bra shows a thumbs up gesture.(Image: Getty Images)
Women who have undergone a mastectomy surgery are entitled to a €400 allowance, which can be used to purchase new bras and prosthetics after surgery.
As of January 2025, the grant covers the costs of new bras and prosthetics purchased each year. Those who have had a double mastectomy would be entitled to €650 a year.
An additional entitlement of €150 can be granted for a prosthesis and a swimsuit, which accounts to €215 for those who have undergone a double mastectomy.
Speaking to Newstalk, Sinéad Sanderson, who owns the Peaches and Cream bra fitting service, made listeners aware of the allowance, as many women who have undergone the surgery are unaware of this grant.
“I have friends that didn’t even know about the service,” she said.
“They thought it was a one-off, number one. But also they weren’t aware at all about swimwear – swimwear was always elusive.”
The annual grant allows those who are entitled to it to “build your bra wardrobe with this allowance”, as it is a yearly income.
Prosthetics may be an intimidating or unfamiliar territory for some, but Sinéad has reassured that the process is very accessible to women post-surgery.
“There’s obviously the temporary form,” she said. “They’re called breast forms or a prosthesis that’s something that you’d have immediately after surgery, a good six to eight week period where it’s much more cotton and lined and it’s a lighter fabric to allow healing.
“Then you went to the permanent form, and there’s silicone, there’s lightweight silicone – there are so many different types.
“There’s foam-filled, which are virtually weightless, and what they’re more used for is exercise, or if you’re on holiday in a hot country.”
To those looking to apply for the allowance and are not sure where to start, you only need your PPS number and a doctor’s letter.
“It’s either through your GP or through your consultant,” she said.
“You simply have to get them to sign a letter that says that ‘Mary is entitled to this, she has been through a mastectomy or a double mastectomy’.
“Then there’ll be a list of two bras, one prosthesis, plus the swimwear, and they just tick the boxes. All we need as a registered vendor and somebody that supplies this service is a PPS number.”
Roches.ie have specified what should be included in the doctor’s letter: “To avail of your entitlement, you’ll need a prescription or letter from your GP or consultant. This letter should confirm that you’ve had breast surgery and require 1 prosthesis, 2 mastectomy bras, 1 swimsuit & 1 swim prosthesis. It should clearly state these items & quantities.”
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