Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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541. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9529/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) is a weekly allowance paid to people who have insufficient income to meet their needs and those of their families. If a person has claimed a social welfare payment but it has not yet been paid and they have no other income, they may qualify for basic SWA while awaiting a decision on their claim.

The person concerned applied for a basic SWA with effect from 20/01/2022. Further information was requested from the person on 01/02/2022 in order to progress his application. To date the person concerned has not provided the requested information.

The Deputy advised in a previous Parliamentary Question that the person concerned applied for a Jobseeker’s Allowance. According to my officials there is no record of a recent paper application for a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment in respect of the person concerned. The person concerned was advised by the Designated Person on 01/02/2022 to make an application for a Jobseeker’s Allowance but to date he has not done this.

In the absence of the requested information and an application for a Jobseeker’s Allowance the Designated Person was unable to progress the SWA application for the person concerned and the claim was closed on 15/02/2022. It is open to the person concerned to provide the requested information and a completed application for Jobseeker’s Allowance within the next 14 days and his SWA claim will be re-opened.

The quickest and easiest way to apply for a Jobseeker’s Allowance is online at www.mywelfare.ie. All relevant documentation should be uploaded with the application to facilitate a prompt decision.

I trust this clarifies the matter.