Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a supplementary welfare exceptional needs appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62837/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.

The ENP scheme is 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.

Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for an ENP for assistance with the purchase of home heating oil. The claim was disallowed on the basis the person had sufficient household income to meet the need. A decision letter issued to the person concerned advising her of the outcome of her application and affording her the option of seeking a review of the Designated Person’s decision.

Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.

Following a request from the person concerned a review of the decision was undertaken. After considering the circumstances of the case, the SWA Review Officer awarded the person an amount of €800 towards the cost of home heating oil.

A decision letter dated 13/12/22 issued to the person concerned advising her of the outcome of the review. A payment will issue to the person concerned this week.

I trust this clarifies the matter.