Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
426. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of a decision on an exceptional needs payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29791/23]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. An ANP is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain other Supplements available to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
ANPs are not however intended to cover circumstances where another Department or Government Agency has the primary responsibility.
Decisions on claims 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.
The person applied for an ANP for assistance with the cost of road repairs outside her home. The ANP was disallowed as it was determined that SWA is not intended to subsidise services which are the responsibility of another Government Department/Agency, in this case the local authority.
Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.
Following a request, a SWA Review Officer undertook a review of the case. The Review Officer determined that the expense did not fall within the scope of the SWA scheme and so upheld the original decision. A letter issued to the person on 23/05/2023 advising them of the decision.
It is open to the person to apply for an ANP in the future should they experience financial difficulty with expenses which fall within the remit of the SWA scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
