Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2023
43. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of exceptional needs' payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in January 2023; the total and individual value of each payment; and the total expenditure by category, in tabular form. [5998/23]
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. 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 customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.The schemes are 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.It is not feasible to show the individual payment amount for each Additional Needs Payment.Table 1 shows the breakdown of Additional Needs Payments by category and expenditure for December 2022.Statistics relating to claims made in January 2023 are not yet available. A statistical summary will be published on a quarterly basis for 2023 onwards. 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.TABULAR STATEMENTTable 1 - Breakdown of Additional Needs Payments for December 2022 by category and expenditure.
|
Category |
Number of payments |
Expenditure |
|
Bills |
242 |
€155,369 |
|
Child Related |
152 |
€29,218 |
|
Clothing |
4,350 |
€618,256 |
|
Funeral |
246 |
€739,208 |
|
General |
2,683 |
€1,089,232 |
|
Housing |
2,090 |
€4,001,965 |
|
Illness |
71 |
€13,203 |
|
Other (Supplements) |
76 |
€28,360 |
|
Urgent Needs Payment |
57 |
€54,062 |
|
Grand Total |
9,967 |
€6,728,873 |
Note: These expenditure figures are taken from the Department's database and represent a snapshot of ANPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. The figures do not capture overpayments recouped and will not reconcile with the end of year outturn figures. The supplement expenditure figures relate only to supplements awarded in December 2022, and not other ongoing claims in payment.
