Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
526. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria used by community welfare officers in assessing persons for supplementary payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23647/21]
View answerMy Department's Community Welfare Service has responsibly for the administration of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.
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 dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single exceptional needs payments (ENPs) and urgent needs payments (UNPs).
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Under the SWA scheme, my department may award a supplement to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that, for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
In addition, officers can make a single exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Furthermore, an urgent needs payment (UNP) is a once-off payment which can be made to persons who may not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or an alternative is not available at that time.
ENPs, UNPs and SWA supplements are means tested payments 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.
The legislation providing for ENPs, UNPs and SWA supplements does not confer a statutory right or entitlement to a payment. The principal consideration in making a payment under these schemes is to address a particular need. The Community Welfare Service officers consider all the circumstances of the case when examining an application for support.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the SWA scheme is kept under review to ensure that it continues to support those most in need of assistance. If the Deputy has concerns in respect of a particular case he should bring the details to the attention of the Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
