Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
304. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of supplementary welfare allowance applications in January and February 2021, by county; the number of applications awarded in those months; the number refused in those months; the total amount paid out in those months; and the reasons given for the payments by county. [12221/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of supplementary welfare allowance applications in January and February 2022, by county; the number of applications awarded in those months; the number refused in those months; the total amount paid out in those months; and the reasons given for the payments by county. [12222/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single exceptional needs payments (ENPs) and urgent needs payments (UNPs).
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the SWA scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, officers can make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Decisions on ENPs and SWA supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Statistics are maintained on the number of applications awarded under the SWA scheme. Statistics are not maintained on the number of applications refused, including over the period January/February 2021 and January/February 2022. My Department is currently compiling more extensive statistics in relation the number of applications made to the SWA schemes in 2022.
As expenditure on the SWA schemes is reported on an annualised basis, the amounts paid out for the months in question are not available.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic SWA and supplement recipients by county, at end of January 2021.
Table 2 shows the number of Basic SWA and supplement recipients by county, at end of February 2021.
Table 3 shows the number of Basic SWA and supplement recipients by county, at end of January 2022.
Table 4 shows the number of Basic SWA and supplement recipients by county, at end of February 2022.
Table 5 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs paid by county for January 2021, February 2021, January 2022 and February 2022 (To the 25th).
Table 6 shows the number of ENPs and UNPs paid by category for January 2021, February 2021, January 2022 and February 2022 (To the 25th).
