The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.
Section 190(1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides that people in full-time education are not normally eligible to receive assistance, including basic supplementary welfare allowance, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
The Executive has advised that it refused a claim for basic supplementary welfare allowance on the basis that the person concerned is a full-time student. She has appealed this decision to an appeals officer in the Executive, who will make a determination on her eligibility and notify her of the outcome as soon as possible.