Persons who are ill and who do not have an entitlement to Disability Benefit may apply for a basic weekly payment of Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
It is understood from the South-Eastern Health Board, that the person in question is currently in receipt of a basic supplementary welfare allowance payment from the date of his application.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is intended to meet current and ongoing needs, payment is normally made within days of application and is not generally made on a retrospective basis.
Under the provisions of the scheme the determination of applications is a matter for each health board. It is open to the person concerned to appeal the health board's decision to pay from the date of application in this case.