Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person borrows money for necessary repairs if they are then eligible to apply for supplementary welfare allowance. [17750/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income. Entitlement only arises where a person can demonstrate that the expenditure is essential and that they have no means of funding the expenditure themselves.

Additional Needs Payments are not generally intended to cover repayments of loans. Where a person finds themselves in difficulty repaying a loan, they should contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service, funded through my Department, provides free advice and support to people on tackling personal debt and money management issues, in particular those on low income.

The decision process for Additional Needs Payments involves consideration of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need. This entails an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Alternative sources of support availed of by the person, including other State supports that may already be available to the person are also considered.

Any person who considers 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. In addition, applications can be made online via .

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.