Thomas Gould
Question:611. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of urgent needs applications received, by category, to date in 2025; the number approved; and the average processing time. [66235/25]
View answerTuesday, 25 November 2025
Questions (611)
Written answers
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. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
Up to the end of September 2025, there were 94,927 applications received for Additional Need Payments of which 1,146 were for Urgent Needs Payments: 48,719 Additional Needs payments were approved in the same period, of which 822 were for Urgent Needs Payments. Urgent Needs Payments are not classified by a category.
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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.