Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
509. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people have applied for an additional needs payment each year for the past three years; how many of those went through a community welfare officer or by other means; and how many of those applications were successful. [35433/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) 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 SWA scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or from other personal and household resources. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements.
All of the relevant circumstances of the case are taken into consideration by an officer of the community welfare service when deciding the level of support required. The decision process involves consideration of the nature of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need. This entails an assessment of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed.
All applications for ANPs are decided by an officer of the community welfare service.
The reporting of this scheme was revised in 2022 to extract more complete information in relation to registrations and to include reoccurring supplements in the overarching term of an Additional Needs Payment. Comparable statistics are not available on applications received for 2020 and 2021. Statistics are prepared and published on a quarterly basis for ANPs.
Statistics are available on the number of Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments made in 2020-2021 and the number of supplements awarded.
Table 1 shows the number of ANPs registered and awarded for 2022 and to the end of June 2023. The figures do not reflect the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled or are awaiting further information.
Table 2 shows the number of Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments claims awarded in 2020 and 2021 excluding reoccurring supplements.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance 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. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie .
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 - Number of ANPs registered and awarded for 2022 and 2023 (to end of June).
|
Year |
Claims Registered |
Claims Awarded |
|
2022 |
146,569 |
97,224 |
|
2023 (to end of June) |
72,006 |
45,175 |
Table 2 - Number of Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments claims awarded in 2020 and 2021 excluding reoccurring supplements
|
Year |
Claims Awarded |
|
2020 |
67,589 |
|
2021 |
55,552 |
