Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current average wait time for an additional/urgent needs payment in Cork city. [29614/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANP) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. An ANP is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain other Supplements available to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

Work on hand is within the scheme's normal processing levels and fully completed applications are processed within two weeks. Applications for ANPs are varied and often quite complex, reflecting the individual circumstances being experienced. Where an application cannot be finalised promptly, the delay is normally due to the need for additional information or documentation and the time it takes for the customer to respond. Upon receipt of this information, the application is then processed quickly.

It is important to note that where it is clear that a person has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the claim is processed on the same day. Community Welfare Officers are very experienced and can generally assess when a case is so urgent that it requires an immediate response.

The Deputy can be certain the Community Welfare Service is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made quickly.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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419. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that no response has issued from the disability allowance section of her Department for a person (details supplied) considering that four queries were sent by email to that section; if the claimant can continue to be paid through their bank account rather than having to collect the payment at the post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29629/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66.  This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical examination, a means test and Habitual Residence conditions.

My Department periodically reviews claims to ensure there is continued entitlement to the payment.  As a result of a review on the payment to the person concerned, as a control measure, their payment will continue to be paid through the Post Office.

I can confirm that the replies to your representations received on 15 May 2023, 22 May 2023 and 29 May 2023 issued directly to the person concerned.  I apologise for this oversight and confirm that copies of these responses have now also been sent to the Deputy's email address.  A reply to your e-mail dated 12 June 2023 will issue to you shortly.

It should be noted that the person concerned may nominate a different Post Office if this would be more convenient to them.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.