Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 July 2022
152. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of supplementary welfare allowance that was paid from 1 January to 31 December 2021; the number of recipients of supplementary welfare allowance during the same timeframe in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36677/22]
View answer153. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of supplementary welfare allowance that was paid from 1 January to 1 July 2022; the number of recipients of supplementary welfare allowance during this timeframe in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36678/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 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 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 additional needs payments.
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.
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.
Under the SWA scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment 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. Decisions on ENPs, UNPs and SWA supplements 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.
Table 1 shows the provisional expenditure by SWA Schemes for 2021 and to date in 2022 (to end of May). Provisional expenditure to end of June 2022 is unavailable at this time.
Table 2 shows the number of recipients of basic supplementary welfare allowance, rent supplement and other supplements on 31 December 2021 and on 30 June 2022.
Table 3 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs awarded for 2021 and to date in 2022 ( to end of June).
This represents a snapshot of claim activity taken on 4 July 2022 and is subject to change.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 – Provisional Expenditure by SWA Schemes for 2021 and to date in 2022 (to end of May)
|
Scheme |
2021 |
2022 (to end of May) |
|
Basic SWA |
€94.9m |
€56.5m |
|
Rent Supplement |
€123m |
€34.1m |
|
Other Supplements |
€4.1m |
€1.5m |
|
Exceptional Needs Payments/Urgent Needs Payments |
€42.4m |
€16.8m |
Table 2 – Number of recipients of basic supplementary welfare allowance, rent supplement and other supplements on 31 December 2021 and on 30 June 2022.
|
Scheme |
2021 |
2022 (30 June 2022) |
|
Basic SWA |
10,824 |
12,701 |
|
Rent Supplement |
13,401 |
11,093 |
|
Other Supplements |
3,698 |
3,384 |
Table 3 - Number of ENPs and UNPs awarded for 2021 and to date in 2022 (to end of June)
|
Scheme |
2021 |
2022 (to end of June) |
|
Exceptional Needs Payments/Urgent Needs Payments |
55,552 |
36,535 |
Note: These figures in table 3 are taken from the Department’s ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of the ENPs/UNPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. Please note the figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.
