Written answers

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Payments

Photo of Pa DalyPa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of supplementary welfare claims and additional needs payment claims made in County Kerry for each month from January 2021 to August 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44881/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single additional needs payments.

The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

Table 1 shows the number of Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement recipients in Co Kerry from January 2021 to date for 2022 (to end of August).

Table 2 shows the number of additional needs payments (excluding supplements) in Co Kerry by month from January 2021 to August 2022

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to a payment under the Supplementary Welfare allowance scheme 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 of Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Other Supplement recipients in Co Kerry by month from January 2021 to August 2022

Month Basic SWA Rent Supplement Other Supplements
Jan-21 254 752 60
Feb-21 255 792 59
Mar-21 231 809 59
Apr-21 225 777 57
May-21 232 750 56
Jun-21 250 700 57
Jul-21 257 637 56
Aug-21 258 566 57
Sep-21 259 504 55
Oct-21 259 483 55
Nov-21 248 458 55
Dec-21 270 442 55
Jan-22 239 421 55
Feb-22 245 406 55
Mar-22 523 400 55
Apr-22 422 394 50
May-22 363 383 51
Jun-22 344 384 49
Jul-22 302 384 51

Table 2- Number of additional needs payments (excluding supplements) in Co Kerry by month from January 2021 to August 2022

Month Number of payments
Jan-21 95
Feb-21 110
Mar-21 176
Apr-21 115
May-21 121
Jun-21 113
Jul-21 117
Aug-21 110
Sep-21 115
Oct-21 133
Nov-21 156
Dec-21 136
Jan-22 89
Feb-22 115
Mar-22 123
Apr-22 200
May-22 432
Jun-22 250
Jul-22 381
Aug-22 361

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