Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022
318. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which exceptional needs payments were made in each of the past three years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5743/22]
View answer319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the uses for which exceptional needs payments may be applied given that some applicants may not qualify under the heading they might have indicated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5744/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 319 together.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time. Government has provided €45.75 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2022.
The scheme is demand led and payments are made 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.
Approximately 92,200 payments were made in 2019, 67,600 payments in 2020 and over 55,500 payments in 2021. Examples of the main types of needs that are met under the scheme include assistance towards new accommodation kit-outs, the purchase of household appliances, rent deposits, funeral and burial expenses, assistance with travel costs, clothing & child related items such as cots and prams.
I would encourage any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an exceptional or urgent needs payment to contact their local Intreo Centre. There is a national Income Support Helpline in place - 0818-800024 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
