Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
1178. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of workers who have been placed on the wage subsidy scheme but also informed or have had to apply for supplementary welfare payments due to the fact that their earnings on the scheme are too low. [6155/20]
View answer1243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have applied for SWA since March 2020; and the number of those that are on the wage subsidy scheme. [6157/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1178 and 1243 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants.
Basic weekly SWA may be paid to customers awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment. In certain circumstances if a person is not eligible for other social welfare payments and their weekly income is below the SWA rate for their family size, a payment may be made to bring their income up to the appropriate SWA rate.
There are currently 15,100 customers in receipt of basic supplementary welfare allowance, this represents a decrease of 940 (6%) since the end of February 2020. Of these 15,100 cases, 3,400 have been registered since 1st March 2020.
The Temporary Work Subsidy Scheme is administered by Revenue. I am advised that data is not available on the number of persons on that scheme who have applied for SWA.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
