Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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645. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when urgent financial assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40344/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is a range of supports provided by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme. These supports can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs).

The basic SWA provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. ANPs can be made to help meet expenses that an eligible 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 a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for a basic SWA in April 2023 pending the outcome of his Invalidity Pension claim. A request for further information subsequently issued to him from the CWS but as the requested documentation was not provided, the application could not be progressed and the claim was closed.

Departmental records show that the person concerned has not made any other recent application for assistance under the SWA scheme or any of the primary payment schemes administered by my Department. As the persons invalidity claim was disallowed, it is open to the person to submit a new application for a primary payment. In the meantime, If the person is experiencing financial difficulties they can apply for assistance under the SWA scheme by completing a SWA1 form which is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also be requested by calling 0818 60 70 80 and by using this link www.eforms.gov.ie/en/forms/5. A completed application form together with any supporting documentation can be returned to my Department where it will be assessed promptly. Alternatively, if the person has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.

Further information on all of my Department’s schemes and payments is available at www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.