Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
337. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the limits in place in regard to personal savings for an applicant subject to a review of their dietary supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4339/17]
View answerDiet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. There are currently 3,400 people in receipt of the diet supplement at a cost of €4.6 million in 2017.
Following the outcome of a review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute commissioned by the Department during 2013, the scheme has been closed to new applicants from 1 February 2014. Existing recipients continue to receive the diet supplement at the current rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.
In reviewing a person’s continued entitlement to diet supplement, both medical and financial need must be established. In terms of savings, the first €5,000 of the capital value of savings is disregarded. The next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per €1,000. The next €25,000 is assessed at €2 per €1,000 and the remaining capital over €40,000 is assessed at €4 per €1,000. Where the applicant and their spouse/partner have separate savings then the combined value of both parties are taken into account.
The weekly rate of diet supplement is adjusted by the corresponding adjustment in the weekly means assessed. This formula reflects the policy of ensuring that those with little or no capital receive the greater share of available support, while those with larger amounts avail of it to contribute, at least partially, towards meeting their needs.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
