Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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904.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disallowed exceptional needs payment will be re-examined due to the immediate concerns for an individual and their family (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[33827/24]

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 Department may make an ANP to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service (CWS) considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP to assist with the cost of a replacement boiler and supplied an approximate quotation of €2,700. The person was requested to provide additional documentation in support of her claim, and she then further advised that she also required repairs to her kitchen ceiling and supplied a quotation of €39,725.

This claim was disallowed on the basis that the person concerned had an open claim with her insurance provider and there may be other assistance available to her through other Government Departments or Agencies such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and / or her Local Authority (LA). A letter advising the person concerned of this decision issued to her on 15/04/2024.

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.

At the request of the person concerned, a SWA Reviewing Officer reviewed the claim and considering the circumstances of the case, upheld the original decision made by the Designated Person, on the basis that the person had an open claim with her home insurance company and had not provided any documentary evidence of this claim being denied. In addition, the person concerned had not provided any evidence of the refusal of assistance from the SEAI and / or Local Authority (LA). Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 04/07/2024 advising her of the outcome of the review.

On 13/08/2024, my Department received documentation confirming that the person’s insurance claim had been denied. However, as the person concerned did not supply evidence of the refusal of assistance from the SEAI and / or LA, the outcome of her ANP claim remains unchanged.

Supports from my Department are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has the primary responsibility. It is advised that the person concerned engage with her local authority Fingal County Council about supports or grants to which she may be entitled including for example the Housing Aid for Older People Grant. While this Grant is for people aged 66 years or more to do essential repairs so they can continue to live in their own home, it can be paid to people under 66 years old in cases of hardship. The grant can be used to do essential repairs such as:

• Help repair or replace the roof. • Upgrade the electrical wiring. • Repair or replace doors and windows. • Provide central heating (where there is no central heating, or it is broken beyond economic repair).

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties with other essential expenses, it is open to her to make a new application for assistance by completing a SWA1 form. This form is available in all Intreo Centres and can also be requested by calling the National CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or at www.eforms.gov.ie/en/forms/5. Alternatively, if the person has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.