The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.
Apart from a number of excluded categories, anyone in the State who satisfies a means test, has registered for employment and can prove unemployment, may qualify for a weekly payment of supplementary welfare allowance. However, since 1 May 2004, all applicants regardless of nationality are required to be habitually resident in the State in order to qualify for supplementary welfare allowance. The effect of this condition is that a person whose habitual residence is elsewhere is not qualified for a weekly supplementary welfare allowance payment.
The person concerned was refused supplementary welfare allowance by the Community Welfare Officer as she was deemed to be not habitually resident in the state.
The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned appealed against this decision to an Appeals Officer of the Executive, who has upheld the decision of the community welfare officer. She has been advised of her right to appeal further to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned has also made an application for Jobseeker's Allowance at King's Inns Street Local Office. This claim is currently under consideration.