Vol. 492 No. 4
263 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the options, if any, open to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in relation to gaining financial support following a lorry accident. [14030/98]
The supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, scheme may provide a basic weekly payment to people who have little or no income. Apart from those categories specifically excluded by the legislation, people in full-time work, people in full-time education and people involved in trade disputes, any person living in the State who satisfies a means test and who has applied for any other benefit, assistance or allowance to which he or she may be entitled, may be eligible to receive assistance under the SWA scheme.
In addition, a weekly supplement may be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest. Entitlement to SWA is determined by the health boards who administer the scheme on my behalf.
There is also provision under the scheme to make an Exceptional Needs Payment, ENP.
The purpose of ENPs is to help prevent hardship by providing for essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which applicants could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Exceptional needs payments are payable at the discretion of the health board taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
The person concerned can apply for assistance under the SWA scheme by contacting the community welfare officer at his local health centre. The community welfare officer will also advise the person concerned about any other entitlements that he might have.
