I propose to take Questions Nos. 578, 580, 581 and 582 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022. A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement). The scheme is demand led and is funded accordingly. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment 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 (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time.
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.
Table 1 shows the number of additional needs payment claims processed by county for each month to-date in 2022 (to end of June). This represents a snapshot of claim activity taken at 1st July and is subject to change.
Table 2 shows the expenditure for additional needs payments by month to-date in 2022 (to end of June). Breakdown of expenditure by county is not available.
Under the additional needs payments, which can have a wide range value, the amount paid will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Payments are made for large items, such as help provided in setting up a home for the first time and smaller weekly supplements to assist with ongoing costs. The scheme is demand led. There is no maximum amount awarded and no cap on payment amount allowable; however the system is restricted to issuing payment transactions of €6,500 or less per transaction. If an Officer determines that the need exceeds €6,500 they can issue multiple payments of €6,500 to meet the need presented. Statistics are not maintained on individual payment amounts or the salary levels of persons awarded an additional needs payment.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
TABLE 1 - Number of Additional Needs Payment claims processed by county for each month to-date in 2022 (to end of June)
County
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Total
|
CARLOW
|
53
|
84
|
65
|
100
|
144
|
130
|
576
|
CAVAN
|
43
|
74
|
76
|
74
|
122
|
91
|
480
|
CLARE
|
67
|
131
|
146
|
153
|
520
|
348
|
1365
|
CORK
|
245
|
313
|
431
|
692
|
993
|
821
|
3495
|
DONEGAL
|
112
|
138
|
172
|
168
|
424
|
585
|
1599
|
DUBLIN
|
830
|
1334
|
1927
|
1784
|
2377
|
2866
|
11118
|
GALWAY
|
73
|
126
|
209
|
189
|
500
|
722
|
1819
|
KERRY
|
99
|
140
|
177
|
265
|
496
|
297
|
1474
|
KILDARE
|
131
|
188
|
196
|
169
|
178
|
481
|
1343
|
KILKENNY
|
60
|
81
|
104
|
106
|
207
|
68
|
626
|
LAOIS
|
83
|
108
|
140
|
133
|
142
|
198
|
804
|
LEITRIM
|
55
|
61
|
77
|
132
|
238
|
111
|
674
|
LIMERICK
|
183
|
220
|
238
|
264
|
448
|
467
|
1820
|
LONGFORD
|
120
|
113
|
138
|
108
|
125
|
151
|
755
|
LOUTH
|
157
|
195
|
149
|
191
|
289
|
221
|
1202
|
MAYO
|
72
|
94
|
136
|
127
|
172
|
135
|
736
|
MEATH
|
142
|
192
|
230
|
231
|
285
|
378
|
1458
|
MONAGHAN
|
29
|
28
|
37
|
46
|
58
|
46
|
244
|
OFFALY
|
79
|
110
|
109
|
128
|
181
|
218
|
825
|
ROSCOMMON
|
33
|
55
|
66
|
78
|
151
|
131
|
514
|
SLIGO
|
80
|
80
|
90
|
86
|
229
|
307
|
872
|
TIPPERARY
|
144
|
212
|
257
|
226
|
249
|
274
|
1362
|
WATERFORD
|
65
|
106
|
174
|
167
|
293
|
321
|
1126
|
WESTMEATH
|
113
|
136
|
145
|
182
|
260
|
241
|
1077
|
WEXFORD
|
61
|
83
|
129
|
144
|
258
|
276
|
951
|
WICKLOW
|
82
|
127
|
235
|
353
|
400
|
190
|
1387
|
Total
|
3211
|
4529
|
5853
|
6296
|
9739
|
10074
|
39702
|
TABLE 2 - Expenditure for additional needs payments by month to-date in 2022 (to end of June)
MONTH
|
€ 000
|
January
|
2,962
|
February
|
3,465
|
March
|
3,676
|
April
|
3,558
|
May
|
4,703
|
June
|
5,038
|