Written answers

Thursday, 28 April 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Eligibility

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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229. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility for assistance with the payment of funeral expenses in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21507/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

The ENP scheme is demand led and 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 in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for financial assistance towards the cost of funeral expenses on 15/03/2022.  The claim was disallowed on the basis that the person had already paid the funeral expenses and had not shown that a need for assistance with them existed.

A decision letter dated 21/03/2022 issued to the person concerned advising her of the outcome of her application and affording her the option of seeking a review of the Designated Person’s decision. 

Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and Urgent Needs Payments, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.

Following a request from the person concerned a review of the decision has been undertaken by the Reviewing Officer. The Reviewing Officer has contacted the person concerned to seek the following information:

- Signed statements confirming who has paid the funeral bill,

-the repayment plan agreed by the person concerned to repay the funeral costs, and

-3 months bank/financial institution statements for the person concerned.

The review will be progressed on receipt of this information and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome.  Should the person concerned need assistance or have any queries in relation to the documentation requested, the Reviewing Officer can be contacted at the phone number and/or email address quoted in the correspondence which issued to them.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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