Claire Kerrane
Ceist:1180. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that she will take to reduce processing times for the additional needs payment. [44148/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (1180, 1181)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:1181. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff dealing with the additional needs payment; and the number of staff dealing with similar payments as of the same time in 2021, in tabular form. [44149/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1180 and 1181 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.
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 customers own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
Payments are made at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) 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. The Community Welfare Service (CWS) is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
There are approximately 221 Community Welfare Officers who work on processing applications for Additional Needs and other SWA payments. This number may change from day to day if other urgent issues arise that require the attention of a CWO locally and depending on their general attendance availability.
The Department has introduced innovations this year which have increased efficiency in processing applications for SWA payments. One of these is the establishment of a back-office team to undertake the preparatory work on applications - for example, the gathering of supporting documentation that is necessary to assess and finalise a claim. This method of processing applications supports a number of CWS areas across the country and it has been found to be very effective in releasing CWOs from the requirement to undertake administrative tasks and to focus on delivery of services. It allows for increased capacity for CWOs to meet with customers as required and to process claims. This model will be extended to cover all CWS areas across the country in the coming weeks.
Other measures to improve the service include the establishment of a national organisational structure to oversee the operation of the service across the entire country and targeted overtime for CWO's is in place with a particular focus on processing of Additional Needs Payments.
In addition, a new National CWS Claims Decisions Team is being established this month to work on finalising SWA applications. The focus of this team initially will be on claims for Additional Needs Payments. Where claims require further contact with the customer or a home visit is required, the claim will remain with the local CWO to be finalised.
It’s important to note that the Community Welfare Service remains a flexible service which meets the varied needs of vulnerable people and continues to provide local access to a CWO. CWOs can facilitate emergency and in-person meetings in 51 Intreo Centres across business hours, five days per week. Some CWOs are based in Social Welfare Branch Offices and provide appointments at those offices. In addition to meeting citizens in Intreo Centres, Branch Offices and DSP offices, CWOs can facilitate an appointment within an hour with a person at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home.
Claims activity in the Community Welfare Service is closely monitored at all times and changes to modernise and improve the service for customers are a feature of the service.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Question No. 1181 answered with Question No. 1180.