This Department has no grant scheme for the installation of central heating in houses.
The supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme is administered on behalf of this Department by the health boards. Under the SWA scheme, a health board may make a single payment to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. These exceptional needs payments – ENPs – may be made to assist with minor household repairs. They 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.
There is also a facility available through the SWA scheme to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs. A person who has exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity may qualify for a heating supplement. This can be paid as a weekly supplement in addition to other social welfare payments. An application for a heating supplement or an ENP may be made by contacting the community welfare officer at the local health centre.