Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she proposes to take to alleviate hardship in cases in which social welfare payments have been terminated without warning thereby creating difficulties for vulnerable people and families; if she will issue a directive to the effect that an assessment will be completed in each case culminating in a payment on hardship grounds when it is deemed that the recipients are left without an income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34561/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is the policy of the Department to ensure that all customers are advised of any change in their entitlements.

In the case of a person whose payment has been terminated the Deputy will be aware that anyone suffering hardship may apply for supplementary welfare allowance. This scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Supplementary welfare allowance provides a safety net against poverty in that it gives a statutory entitlement to a minimum weekly income, based on criteria set out in legislation. The majority of SWA claims are processed within a matter of days.