Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1243. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that were received for supplementary welfare allowance in County Wicklow in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the number of applications that were successful, unsuccessful and appealed; the average amounts allocated to applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40652/22]
View answer1244. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that were received for exceptional needs payments in County Wicklow in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the number of applications that were successful, unsuccessful and appealed; the average amounts allocated to applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40653/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1243 and 1244 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 supplementary welfare allowance 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.
The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022. A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement). The scheme is demand led and is funded accordingly. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
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.
The Department is also developing more extensive statistics in relation to the number of additional needs payment applications. The focus of the development has been on current data from January 2022 with details on the number of applications available from this date onward.
Determinations made by Designated Persons in relation to claims made for Basic SWA and all Supplements can be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Decisions made in relation to claims made for exceptional and urgent needs payments are not appealable to the Appeals Office but can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer.
While information on appeals is not available by county, the number of reviews requested for ENPs and UNPs and their outcomes is available for County Wicklow from February 2022.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic SWA and Additional Needs Payment applications that were registered/awarded/disallowed for County Wicklow from 1 January to end of June 2022.
Table 2 shows the number of recipients for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement for County Wicklow on 31 December 2019, 2020, 2021 and on 30 June 2022. The number of applications registered/awarded/disallowed for Rent Supplement is not currently available.
Table 3 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs awarded for County Wicklow in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to end of June 2022.
Table 4 shows the number of ENP and UNP claims for which a review was requested for County Wicklow and their outcomes for the period 1 February to end of June 2022.
This represents a snapshot of claim activity taken at 4th July 2022 and is subject to change.
The payment amount for an additional needs payment, which can have a wide range value, will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed and, therefore, an average payment amount may not be representative of the trend in payments.
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 - Number of Basic SWA and Additional Needs Payment applications that were registered/awarded/disallowed for County Wicklow from 1 January to end of June 2022
|
Scheme |
Registered |
Awarded |
Disallowed |
|
Basic SWA |
1,062 |
960 |
60 |
|
Additional Needs Payment |
1,433 |
1,275 |
108 |
|
Total |
2,495 |
2,235 |
168 |
Table 2 - Number of recipients for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement for County Wicklow on 31 December 2019, 2020, 2021 and on 30 June 2022
|
Scheme |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (on 30 June) |
|
Basic SWA |
835 |
608 |
412 |
442 |
|
Rent Supplement |
637 |
714 |
512 |
432 |
|
Other Supplement |
150 |
128 |
89 |
72 |
|
Total |
1,622 |
1,450 |
1,013 |
946 |
Table 3 - Number of ENPs and UNPs awarded for County Wicklow in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to end of June 2022
|
Scheme |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (to end June) |
|
ENP/UNP |
3,328 |
3,074 |
2,133 |
1,281 |
Note: These figures are taken from the Department's ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of ENPs/UNPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. The figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.
Table 4 - Number of ENP and UNP claims for which a review was requested for County Wicklow and their outcomes for the period 1 February to end of June 2022
|
Number Received |
Number Awarded |
Number Disallowed |
|
6 |
3 |
3 |
