Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13734/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 25 November 2020. The application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this lady was substantially restricted in taking up employment. It was also refused on having means in excess of the statutory limit. Notification of this decision and the reason(s) for it issued to the person concerned on 20 January 2021. A review of this decision was completed and it confirmed the original decision. Notification of this review along with a detailed breakdown of her means issued on 9 March 2021.

The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office are being prepared and will be submitted by the Department shortly. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.

I regret that the person concerned had a negative experience during the Rent Supplement application process. In spite of the huge demand for our services, my officials still strive to meet and exceed customer expectations and it is unfortunate that my Department did not achieve that aim on this occasion. According to my officials a full review of the Rent Supplement application process was conducted by the Area Manager and written clarification was sent to the person concerned in December 2020.

A basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly means assessed payment for people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families.

If the weekly income of the person concerned is below the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for her family size, a payment may be made to bring her income up to the appropriate basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate. The current weekly personal rate is €201 and an increase for a qualified child under 12 is €38.

If the person concerned feels she meets the eligibility criteria for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment, she can make an application by contacting her local Community Welfare Service.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person who is in financial difficulty could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable 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, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

An application for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance and/or an Exceptional Needs Payment can be made by contacting the Community Welfare Service in the Swords Intreo Centre by phone 01 4164190 or by email swaswords@welfare.ie. Application forms can also be accessed online at www.gov.ie/dsp.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.