The supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards and neither I nor my Department have any function in deciding individual cases.
Supplements are normally calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent or mortgage interest, has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to the family circumstances, less £6. This £6 represents the minimum contribution which people are required to pay from their own resources towards their accommodation cost. In addition to the minimum contribution, applicants are required to contribute any assessable means in excess of the appropriate SWA rate.
The South-Western Area Health Board was contacted on behalf of the person concerned and has advised that he is in receipt of the maximum amount of rent supplement payable to someone in his circumstances. Details of how the amount of rent supplement in payment was calculated are shown in the following tabular statement.