The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by the health boards and my Department has no function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.
Supplementary welfare allowance provides a basic weekly allowance as a right to eligible people who have little or no income. An assessment of a person's means and needs must be carried out to determine entitlement to benefits. Where there is a shortfall in a person's income a payment may be made to bring that person's income up to the appropriate supplementary welfare allowance rate.
Payments can also be made where a person has no means to meet their immediate needs pending payment from another source, for example, where they are awaiting determination of an application for a social welfare or health board payment. Any interim payment which is awarded pending the determination or payment of a social welfare or health board payment is fully recoverable from the arrears once the other payment is awarded.
People with low incomes may also qualify for a weekly supplement to meet certain special needs, for example, rent and mortgage interest payments, or a payment to help with the cost of any exceptional needs they may have.
If it subsequently transpires that the information given to the community welfare officer is incorrect then the matter will be reviewed with the purpose of recovering any overpayment involved. Where there is evidence of fraudulent claims the matter will be forwarded to the Garda for investigation.