Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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190. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which exceptional needs payments are available in cases where family income is insufficient to meet their requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6346/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) 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 which are deemed to be necessary.

The scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

This important support is not restricted to those already on a social welfare payment and may also be available to those working on a low income.

In 2022 alone, 97,224 ANPs were issued, at a total value of over €58 million.

Any person who is experiencing financial difficulty can apply for an ANP by completing a SWA1 form, which is widely available. It can be downloaded at www.gov.ie.It is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ieor by calling 0818 60 70 80. Customers can also request a SWA1 form by using the Request Application Form page available on www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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191. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants throughout the country currently in receipt of working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6347/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment.

It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports low-income working families. There are approximately 47,000 families with 103,000 children who are currently in receipt of WFP.

An increase in the income thresholds applicable to WFP customers has taken effect from 5 January 2023 and will see the income limit for all family sizes increase by €40. This will see an increase in payment across all awarded claims of €24 per week while also increasing the income qualification thresholds for claimants.

The easiest and fastest ways for customers to make an application for Working Family Payment is online via mywelfare.ie

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.