The person concerned is in receipt of her full weekly social welfare entitlements. She is in receipt of one-parent family payment in respect of herself and four dependent children who reside with her, along with monthly child benefit. She is also in receipt of half-rate unemployment benefit. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for exceptional needs payments to help meet essential, once-off expenditure that a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of his or her weekly income.
The Dublin and mid-Leinster regional office of the Health Service Executive, which was contacted about this case, has advised that it has assisted the person concerned in the past by way of exceptional needs payments. If she finds herself in a position whereby she has insufficient means to cater for a particular need, it is open to her to make an application for an exceptional needs payment by contacting the community welfare officer at her local health centre. If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties budgeting her weekly income or in meeting debt commitments on an ongoing basis, she should contact her nearest money advice and budgeting service office for guidance.