Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
468. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of additional needs payment applications made in each of the past five years, and to date in 2023; the corresponding number of requests associated with heating/energy bills; the number granted in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34308/23]
View answerThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
Under the SWA scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or from other personal and household resources. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements.
All of the relevant circumstances of the case are taken into consideration by an officer of the community welfare service when deciding the level of support required. The decision process involves consideration of the nature of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need. This entails an assessment of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed.
The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information in relation to registrations and to include reoccurring supplements in the overarching term of an Additional Needs Payment. Statistics are not available on applications received for 2020 and 2021.
Statistics are now prepared and published on a quarterly basis for ANPs and the figures for Q2 of 2023 are not as yet available.
Table 1 shows the number of ANPs registered and awarded in relation to household bills and heating costs for 2022 and to the end of March 2023. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information.
A Heating Supplement can be paid where a person has need for additional heating due to ill health or infirmity. Heating supplement is not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the year.
Table 2 shows the number of Heating Supplement recipients at the end of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to end of March 2023.
In addition, the Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. Significant changes were made to the scheme in the Budget which have already resulted in more than 35,000 additional households in receipt of this payment when the scheme ended.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 - Number of Additional Needs Payments registered and awarded in relation to household bills and heating costs for 2022 and to end of March 2023
|
Year |
Registered |
Awarded |
|
2022 |
11,196 |
6,472 |
|
2023 (end of March) |
2,968 |
1,479 |
|
Total |
14,164 |
7,951 |
Table 2 - Number of Heating Supplement recipients at the end of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to end of March 2023.
|
Year |
Total Number of Recipients |
|
2018 |
1,398 |
|
2019 |
1,253 |
|
2020 |
1,101 |
|
2021 |
977 |
|
2022 |
994 |
|
2023 (end of March) |
990 |
