Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
724. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs’ payments processed in County Kildare in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the reason or category for the issuance of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55506/22]
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 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 schemes are demand led and 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.
Table 1 shows the number of additional needs payments (excluding reoccurring supplements) for County Kildare, by category, for the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022.
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 – Additional needs payments (excluding reoccurring supplements) for County Kildare, by category, for the years 2018 to 2021 and to end of October 2022.
|
Category |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022(Oct) |
|
Bills |
96 |
27 |
43 |
38 |
38 |
|
Child Related |
163 |
136 |
96 |
76 |
71 |
|
Clothing |
689 |
621 |
358 |
243 |
889 |
|
Funeral |
108 |
117 |
109 |
98 |
88 |
|
General |
893 |
898 |
501 |
401 |
324 |
|
Housing |
1,349 |
1,514 |
1,774 |
1,471 |
795 |
|
Illness |
87 |
83 |
45 |
37 |
46 |
|
Urgent Needs Payment |
322 |
51 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
|
Grand Total |
3,707 |
3,447 |
2,931 |
2,365 |
2,256 |
