Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
48. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection the budget that has been allocated to community welfare officers in relation to those seeking assistance due to an inability to keep their prepaid gas or electricity meters topped up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50715/22]
View answerThe Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why the Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports in 2022 and a package of one-off measures worth €2.5 billion in the Budget 2023 cost of living package. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which energy credits totaling €600 will credited to each domestic electricity account, including Pay as You Go accounts, in November 2022, January 2023 and March 2023.
In response to the on-going cost-of-living pressures, as part of Budget 2023, I secured almost €2.2billion, the largest Social Protection package in the history of the state. Some €1.1billion of this package has been targeted to provide a wide range of lump-sum payments in order to help people in the coming months, in addition to a wide range of increases which will come into effect from January 2023 including:
- The Autumn Cost-of-Living Double Week Payment to most Social protection schemes which will be paid during the week commencing 17th of October 2022;
- The Double Payment of Child Benefit to support families with children will be paid alongside the regular Child Benefit Payment in November 2022;
- A €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance;
- A €200 Lump Sum Payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance;
- A €500 Lump Sum Payment to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant;
In addition, a 100% Christmas Bonus will be paid to all long-term social welfare recipients in December 2022.
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.
Government has provided €45.75 million for the Additional Needs Payment schemes in 2022. A further provision of €4.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement). This is a demand-led scheme and there is no budget cap. 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.
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.
