Dáil debates

Thursday, 14 July 2022

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Social Welfare Payments

10:30 am

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

78. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will confirm the updates to processes for the additional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35174/22]

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister about the new process in place for the additional needs payment.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The additional needs payment is available to people if they have expenses they cannot pay from their weekly income. In response to the cost-of-living crisis, I have taken a number of steps to simplify the process of applying for this payment. These measures include making it clear that the payment is available to both social welfare recipients and families on low incomes, including persons who work 30 hours or more; updating the income guidelines in line with the working family payment; ensuring community welfare officers, CWOs, continue to have discretion to issue payments to assist individuals or households in unique hardship circumstances; establishing a new national community welfare contact centre which can be contacted at 0818-607080; and running a major national awareness campaign, including national radio adverts, to promote and raise awareness of the additional needs payment.

Community welfare officers are available in 51 Intreo centres throughout the country to meet and assist customers five days per week. They can facilitate in-person and emergency meetings by phone or in any Intreo centre or branch office. If the need arises, a direct home visit appointment can be arranged.

The application form for an additional needs payment is also available online. The completed application form can be posted or dropped into the local Intreo centre where it will be processed promptly.

My Department is examining establishing a direct online application process for the additional needs payment. All information on how to apply for the payment is available at www.gov.ie/en/service/4eb45-additional-needs-payment/. I want to ensure people know the additional needs payment is available to support them if they are experiencing financial hardship. The payment is demand-led and there is no budget cap on it.

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is really welcome and I welcome the income limits that are there as well. I welcome the advertisements, the fact that awareness is being raised of what is available and that it is available to workers as well as those who rely on social welfare.

I asked previously that putting this online be looked at because I came across a lone parent in her late 40s who had worked all her life. She is in that school situation whereby she has to sign on for the summer months. It was difficult for her. She said she could not go to her local community welfare officer because she would feel embarrassed and ashamed. She should not feel like that but we know, for some, that is how they would feel. Online access would be very important and make a difference.

On accessing the community welfare officers, the previous walk-in was important and is a loss because in some cases the Intreo centre is not in a person's town. He or she has to travel and that causes difficulties. That should be looked at.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy raised the issue of the online application and that is why we are working on doing that. My officials are seeing how we can put it online for some people. I am trying to make it as easy as possible for people to access this payment. I understand some people do not want to have to meet somebody so we have a central phone line. If somebody cannot go to an Intreo office, he or she can ring up and make an appointment and the community welfare officer can visit the house, if that is what is needed. A person can phone or email the community welfare officer. I have tried to make it as accessible as possible because this payment and support is the State safety net to help people who run into difficulty and need it. It is targeted at those on social welfare and low-income families. I encourage anybody having difficulties to contact their community welfare officer. Everybody is experiencing an increase in the cost of living and there is no shame in doing it.

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will all the data for those who apply and receive or do not receive an additional needs payment be collected?

I presume a person can ring the contact centre, ask for an application form and it will be posted to his or her house. That is welcome. While the online access will be helpful for some, as will phone and email, for others it will not be. In my home town we have Syrian and Afghan refugees and now Ukrainians. We do not have an Intreo centre in the town. There are difficulties. Previously, a person could walk into the local health centre and see the CWO. Some of them have little access to phones and do not have email. This has been raised with me by the local family resource centre. Others in opposition have raised the issue of accessing CWOs. I think it is an issue and that it should be looked at as regards walk-ins.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have done everything I can to make access to the community welfare officer as easy as possible. In terms of the Ukrainians who have come here, our social welfare staff have gone out and visited them.

In terms of the numbers, between January and the end of May 2022, more than 27,800 additional needs payments were made, totalling almost €17 million. In the same period last year, 23,000 payments were made. That is a nearly 20% increase in the number of payments year on year for the first five months.

I have ensured there has been a widespread media campaign to tell people how to access their community welfare officer. Between us all as well, we can make it known on our social media that this is available and is there to help people.