Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I should also reference the €600 energy credit, which benefited bill and prepay meter users alike. Persistent difficulty with indebtedness can be helped through budgetary advice from the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS. While this engagement is not a precondition for any assistance, the service provides impartial advice and expertise to help people manage money and take control of debt. It may be useful to mention that, under the supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, scheme, a supplement may be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. This can include a heating supplement when a person has a need for additional heating due to ill health or infirmity. The heating supplement is not restricted to the fuel season and can be paid throughout the year. Heating supplements are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme and all the relevant circumstances of the case are taken into account. There are currently 950 people in receipt of the heating supplement.

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