Written answers
Wednesday, 14 September 2022
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Payments
Pa 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]
Heather 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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