Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
92. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will set up a cost of living hardship fund to be distributed by community welfare officers in the community and accessible by families and persons who are deeply affected by the cost of living increases in food, medical bills, essential clothing and so on. [24502/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Community Welfare Service of my Department may make discretionary payments to help people with additional costs that could not reasonably be expected to be met out of their weekly income.
Under this 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.
An exceptional needs payment may be paid to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment may be made to persons who would not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where there is no alternative available to them at that time.
Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2022.
The scheme is demand-led and payments 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 in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
In general, the supplementary allowance scheme is not intended to cover circumstances where responsibility for the expenditure rests with another Government Department or Agency. In the case of medical bills, this responsibility rests with the Health Service Executive.
Anyone who wishes to make an application for a payment under the supplementary allowance schemes should contact the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre. There is a national Intreo Contact Centre in place (Ph: 0818 405060) which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
