Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2013
438. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if an elderly or disabled person who requires work to their home would be considered for an emergency needs payment when the local authority is no longer accepting applications for housing aid for older people or housing adaption grants and where works are necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24272/13]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €47.6 million for the scheme in 2013.
There is no automatic entitlement to a payment or no predetermined amounts under the different categories for ENPs. Such payments are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. Those who qualify are normally in receipt of a social welfare or Health Service Executive payment.
Examples of the main types of needs that are met under the scheme include; assistance towards the purchase of household appliances, bedding, clothing & child related items such as cots and prams, funeral & burial expenses.
The scheme is not intended to cover circumstances where responsibility rests with another Government Department or Agency. Accordingly an ENP would not be payable in the circumstances outlined in the Deputy’s question.
