Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
35. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the significant backlog in her Department for the exceptional needs payment that many applicants have been waiting upwards of eight weeks; if she is concerned with this given that it is supposed to be an urgent payment for those in exceptional need; her plans to tackle the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50215/22]
View answer37. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that are being taken to address the backlog in assessments for applicants of the additional needs’ payment and supplementary welfare allowance within the community welfare service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50273/22]
View answer58. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is increasing resources to reduce processing times of additional needs payment claims. [49678/22]
View answer67. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on reports of substantial waiting times for supplementary welfare allowance and additional needs payment applications to be processed and paid out; the current estimated processing times for an application to be processed and paid out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50717/22]
View answer86. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-organise community welfare officers back into the community for at least two to three days per week, but preferably permanently (details supplied). [50624/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 37, 58, 67 and 86 together.
In 2022 to the end of September, almost 66,000 applications for ANPs were processed and awarded, an increase of just under 60% on 2021. This rise in the number of applications reflects, at least in part, the efforts the Department has implemented, including two major advertising campaigns, to increase awareness of the payments.
In the region of 63% of all applications are being finalised within 4 weeks. This reflects the need to verify household income and expenditure and assess whether or not the expenditure in respect of which the ANP is requested is essential. Where an application is not finalised within this timeframe, this is generally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application. Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is generally processed in a matter of days.
In addition, where my officials are aware of a client with an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the person customer in question receives a prompt service, usually on the same day.
The Department has taken a number of steps to increase service capacity, including:
- the introduction of a national CWS freefone line, meaning clients don't have to attend an office in person to make a claim,
- the rostering of staff to ensure there is a full-time CWO presence in over 50 offices nationwide,
- the establishment of a back-office support team, to take-on the more routine administrative tasks associated with claim processing - freeing up front-line CWOs to deal directly with customers and their claims.
In addition, the Department is well advanced in the development of an online claim option.
These changes mean that the CWS is in stronger position than it would otherwise have been to respond to the increase in service demand.
In addition, the Department is taking steps to allocate additional staff to the CWS function having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates process. I expect recruitment for these posts to begin shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
