Social Welfare Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Questions (391)

Pa Daly

Question:

391. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of supplementary welfare claims and additional needs payment claims made in County Kerry for each month from January 2021 to August 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44881/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

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.

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.

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.

Table 1 shows the number of Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement recipients in Co Kerry from January 2021 to date for 2022 (to end of August).

Table 2 shows the number of additional needs payments (excluding supplements) in Co Kerry by month from January 2021 to August 2022

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to a payment under the Supplementary Welfare allowance scheme 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 – The number of Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement recipients in Co Kerry by month from January 2021 to August 2022

Month	Basic SWA	Rent Supplement	Other Supplements
Jan-21	254	752	60
Feb-21	255	792	59
Mar-21	231	809	59
Apr-21	225	777	57
May-21	232	750	56
Jun-21	250	700	57
Jul-21	257	637	56
Aug-21	258	566	57
Sep-21	259	504	55
Oct-21	259	483	55
Nov-21	248	458	55
Dec-21	270	442	55
Jan-22	239	421	55
Feb-22	245	406	55
Mar-22	523	400	55
Apr-22	422	394	50
May-22	363	383	51
Jun-22	344	384	49
Jul-22	302	384	51

Table 2- Number of additional needs payments (excluding supplements) in Co Kerry by month from January 2021 to August 2022

Month	Number of payments
Jan-21	95
Feb-21	110
Mar-21	176
Apr-21	115
May-21	121
Jun-21	113
Jul-21	117
Aug-21	110
Sep-21	115
Oct-21	133
Nov-21	156
Dec-21	136
Jan-22	89
Feb-22	115
Mar-22	123
Apr-22	200
May-22	432
Jun-22	250
Jul-22	381
Aug-22	361