Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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244. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for social welfare assistance claims that were granted and refused, granted on review, granted on appeal by scheme in the last available year for which figures are available in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36869/22]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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245. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for social welfare benefit claims that were granted and refused, granted on review, granted on appeal by scheme in the last available year for which figures are available in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36870/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.

My Department does not distinguish between claims awarded following registration, claims awarded and subsequently disallowed or on claims that are awarded following review. Detailed information on claims awarded, claims rejected, claims withdrawn and total claims registered are available in the Annual Statistics report at www.gov.ie/dsp/statistics.

Claims awarded on appeal are managed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office which functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and approximately 2% are appealed.

There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was incorrect. It is often the case that new evidence is provided with an appeal and that, as a result, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person.

Where the decision was not revised by the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the person concerned as the appeal process proceeds and in addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the person concerned in person at oral hearing which may influence the outcome of the appeal.

Table 1 below shows the outcome of appeals finalised by assistance scheme in 2021.

Table 2 below shows the outcome of appeals finalised by benefit in 2021.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in May and June 2022 respectively; the total and individual value of each payment; the total expenditure by category and month, inclusive in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36871/22]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in each month in 2018 and 2019; the total and individual value of each payment; the total expenditure by category and month, inclusive in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36872/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot be expected to pay from their weekly income. It provides supports and services to help support people on low incomes and facing financial hardship.

This scheme is administered by the Community Welfare Service of the Department of Social Protection.

The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of Additional Needs Payment in 2022. A further provision of €5.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement). The scheme is demand led and is funded accordingly. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.

An additional needs payments can be a single payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income or may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time.

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.

Table 1 shows the number by category of ENPs and UNPs paid by month for May and June 2022.

Table 2 shows the total expenditure by category of ENPs and UNPs paid by month for May and June 2022.

This represents a snapshot of claim activity taken at 4th July 2022 and is subject to change.

The payment amount, which can have a wide range value, will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed, therefore an average payment amount may not be representative of the trend in payments.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tabular Statement

Table 1 - The number by category of Additional needs payments( ENPs and UNPs) paid by month for May and June 2022

Table 2 - The total expenditure by category of ENPs and UNPs paid by month for May and June 2022

Note:These figures in tables 1 and 2 are taken from the Department’s ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of the ENPs/UNPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. Please note the figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.