Written answers

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider contacting organisations (details supplied) with the intention of re-establishing the Covid-19 hardship grant for cocooning persons over 70 years of age. [18124/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is a range of supports put in place to provide assistance to families and individuals during the Covid 19 pandemic.  There has been a specific recognition in these measures of the needs of older people and those who are vulnerable who were asked to cocoon.

In order to support vulnerable households during the COVID-19 emergency, my Department extended the fuel allowance season by four weeks for existing eligible customers on a once-off basis, providing these households, including low income pensioner households, with additional targeted financial supports in a timely, efficient and time bound manner.  This extension provided that the duration of 2019/2020 fuel season was longer than any other in the last 30 years.

My Department provides a range of supports for those in need of financial support.  The supplementary welfare allowance scheme offers a safety net within the overall social welfare system by providing assistance to those whose means are insufficient to meet their own needs and those of their dependents.  There are several payments within the scheme, including weekly payments, income supplements, Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department may award a supplement to assist with on going or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.  This can include a heat supplement where a person has need for additional heating due to ill health or infirmity.

In addition, once-off payments can be made to help with the cost of any exceptional needs and urgent needs which a person cannot reasonably be expected to meet from their income.  Decisions on such payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme should contact the Department's Community Welfare Service.  My Department has established an Income Support Line - 1890 800 024 - which should be used by customers at this time to contact the Department.  Staff can advise them of how to make an application for assistance from the Department.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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