Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received to date in each county for essential needs payments in respect of new home kits; the number of applications that were successful and the average processing times per application per county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50827/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

The schemes are 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.

Where a tenant cannot furnish their property from within their own resources, they can apply for an additional needs payment to assist them. The level of furnishings and appliances required will depend on an assessment of size and nature of the proposed property, the expected level of occupancy and items already available to the customer. Every case is based on the individual circumstances/needs of the household.

In the region of 63% of all additional needs payments applications are being finalised within 4 weeks. This reflects the need to verify household income and expenditure and assess whether or not the expenditure in respect of which the ANP is requested is essential. Where an application is not finalised within this timeframe, this is generally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application. Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, it is generally processed in a matter of days. In addition, where my officials are aware of a client with an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the person customer in question receives a prompt service, usually on the same day.

Data is not available on the processing times of applications for new home kits outs by county.

Table 1 shows the number of additional needs payment applications received and awarded for new home kits outs by county from January 2022 to end of September 2022. The claim figures represent a snapshot of claim activity and are subject to change.

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.

Table 1- number of additional needs payment applications received and awarded with value for new home kits by county from January 2022 to end of September 2022.