Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter regarding an application by a person (details supplied) will be addressed. [41568/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A decision on an application for Exceptional Needs Payments cannot be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Section 323 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides that where a person is dissatisfied with the determination of a designated person of a claim by him or her under section 200, 201 or 202 of that Act, i.e. Allowances-in-kind, Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments, the determination can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer. 

The person concerned made an application in this instance for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) towards funeral costs on the 5^thApril 2018.  The funeral costs had been paid in full by this date.  The need was met and therefore there was no basis for the award of the ENP.  The person concerned requested a review of the decision by a SWA Reviewing Officer.  The SWA Reviewing Officer reviewed the customer’s submission and a report from the designated person who made the original decision.  The SWA Reviewing Officer upheld the original decision & informed the person concerned in writing on the 14^thJune 2018. 

An ENP Review can only be carried out once.  After that, a person has the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman’s office. The Office of the Ombudsman examines complaints from members of the public who feel they have been unfairly treated by certain public bodies, including the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and including complaints about payments related to all schemes defined in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.