Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case.
The Midlands area of the HSE has advised that the person concerned made an application for an exceptional needs payment which was refused as the executive did not consider it an ‘exceptional need' in her particular circumstances. It is open to the person concerned to contact the Community Welfare Officer in the local health centre if she wishes to have her case reviewed.