Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
706. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received an urgent needs payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3031/25]
View answer714. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of basic supplementary welfare allowance in County Clare, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3042/25]
View answer734. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of basic supplementary welfare allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3345/25]
View answer747. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received a supplementary welfare allowance payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3360/25]
View answer754. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received an urgent needs payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3368/25]
View answer759. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of rent supplement in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3373/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 706, 714, 734, 747, 754, 759 together.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme 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. Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as Additional Needs Payments.
The Basic Supplementary Welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential 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 customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. Urgent Needs Payments make up only a small percentage of the payments made under the Additional Needs Payment scheme.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic Supplementary Allowance and supplement recipients in Co Clare, at year end 2020-2024.
Table 2 shows the number of Additional Needs Payments (excluding supplements) issued in Co Clare, 2020-2024.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to a Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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 Deputies.
Tabular Statement
Table 1- Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Supplement recipients in Co Clare, at year end 2020-2024.
|
Scheme |
End of 2020 |
End of 2021 |
End of 2022 |
End of 2023 |
End of 2024 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
111 |
115 |
193 |
169 |
194 |
|
Rent Supplement |
132 |
61 |
57 |
54 |
54 |
|
Other Supplements |
52 |
48 |
56 |
51 |
41 |
Table 2- Additional Needs Payments (excluding supplements) issued in Co Clare, 2020-2024
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments/Urgent Needs Payments |
1,777 |
1,270 |
3,666 |
2,706 |
1,800 |
|
Of which Exceptional Needs Payments |
1,763 |
1,264 |
3,638 |
2,682 |
1,783 |
|
Of which Urgent Needs Payments |
14 |
6 |
28 |
24 |
17 - |
