Vol. 423 No. 1
423 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will clarify the scheme in relation to the payments of supplementary welfare allowance for mortgage arrears; whether this scheme includes tenant purchase cases as well as eligible applicants with mortgage arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme a weekly supplement can be paid towards mortgage interest payments. Such supplements may be paid where the interest exceeds £5 per week.
Section 212 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 permits a Health Board to make a single payment, where it is reasonable to do so, to meet an exceptional need. Assistance towards the payment of mortgage arrears is, however, not normally given.
A local authority tenant who has opted to buy his own home under a tenant purchase scheme and falls into an arrears situation would have the option of reverting to tenancy or renegotiating the terms of his agreement with the relevant Local Authority. Accordingly, the need for a once-off exceptional needs payment should not normally arise.
