Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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361. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a supplementary welfare payment can be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29045/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An ANP application can be made for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.

According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP on 30/08/2023 to assist with funeral costs in respect of her late mother. A letter subsequently issued to the person in which she was asked to provide further documentation in support of her claim. As this information was not received, the person’s application could not be progressed. The person concerned submitted a further ANP application to assist with funeral costs in respect of her late mother on 08/03/2024 as well as a new application in respect of her father’s death. A request for further information issued to the person on the same day. As the requested documentation was not received, the applications could not be progressed and were closed.

Following your previous representation, two SWA application packs were issued to the person concerned and she submitted a further ANP application to assist with funeral costs for her late parents on 13/06/2024. This application included part of the outstanding information previously requested. A request for information necessary to finalise her claim was sent to her on 17/06/2024.

On 02/07/2024, an officer of my Department spoke with the person concerned by phone to advise her on what is required to progress her application. When the necessary documentation has been received, the claims will be progressed promptly, and the applicant will be advised of the outcome in writing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.