Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2023
41. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount dispersed in additional needs payments for the month of January; the amount requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6084/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. Additional Needs Payments are demand led and 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.Expenditure figures are not yet available for January 2023. In the previous month, December 2022, the provisional total expenditure figure for Additional Need Payments was €7.6m. The total amount requested for Additional Needs Payments is not recorded. Applications are decided based on the need of the individual, taking all of the circumstances of the case into consideration to provide an appropriate level of assistance for the need presented.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.
