Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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399. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of successful applications to the additional needs’ payment according to the need addressed, both by number of applicants and by total expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9682/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

Additional Needs Payments are demand led and 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.

Table 1 provides a breakdown of the number of Additional Needs Payments claims awarded and expenditure, by category, in 2022.

Statistics relating to claims made in 2023 are not yet available. A statistical summary will be published on a quarterly basis for 2023 onwards.

Any person who considers that 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.

Tabular Statement

Table 1 – Breakdown of number of Additional Needs Payments claims awarded and expenditure, by category, in 2022.

Note: These expenditure figures are taken from the Department's database and represent a snapshot of Additional Needs Payments as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. The figures do not capture overpayments recouped and will not reconcile with the end of year outturn figures. The supplement expenditure figures relate only to supplements awarded 2022, and not other ongoing claims in payment.