Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which exceptional needs payments are available in cases where family income is insufficient to meet their requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51064/22]
View answerUnder 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 over-arching administrative 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 a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The scheme is demand led. 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.
In general, additional needs payments are not intended to cover circumstances where responsibility rests with another Government Department or Agency. However, an additional needs payment can be made to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
The payment is available to both social welfare recipients and also to families on low incomes including persons who work 30 hours or more. Information on how to apply for the payment is available at www.gov.ie/en/service/4eb45-additional-needs-payment/.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
