Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

440. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in October 2021 and October 2022; the total and individual value of each payment; and the total expenditure by category and month for October 2021 and October 2022, in tabular form. [59340/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may 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 customer’s own resources, and which 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.

It is not feasible to show the individual payment amount for each Additional Needs Payment.

Tables 1 and 2 show the breakdown by category of the number and total expenditure paid in October 2021 and September 2022 for Additional Needs Payments.

Figures for October 2022 are not yet finalised. The Department is developing the statistical output of this scheme to provide a standard reference point for the future dissemination of these figures.

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 - The number, by category, of Additional Needs Payments paid in October 2021 and September 2022

Table 2 - The total expenditure, by category, of Additional Needs Payments paid in October 2021 and September 2022

Note: These figures are taken from the Department's database and represent a snapshot of ANPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. The figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped and therefore will not reconcile with the end of year outturn figures.