Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
678. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently process and allow for an additional need's payment for a person (details supplied) who has submitted a file for review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37193/26]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my department may make an Additional Needs Payment to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income or household and personal resources. This support is intended to assist with once-off or exceptional expense that a person is unable to meet from their normal weekly income. ANPs are administered by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS), considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the need presenting. 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.
According to departmental records, the person concerned applied for an ANP on 07/04/2026 to assist with the cost of furnishing their new home. This claim was disallowed on the basis that the person concerned was deemed to have sufficient financial resources available to them to meet this need through their personal and/or household resources. A letter advising the person concerned of this outcome and offering them an opportunity to seek a review issued to them in writing on 16/04/2026.
Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, Exceptional Needs Payments and Urgent Needs Payments, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.
Following a request from the person concerned, a SWA Review Officer has been assigned to review their claim and the original decision by the CWO.
Should the person concerned have any further information or documentation in support of their review, they can send it to: SWA Review Officer, Civic Offices, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 X6N3.
The SWA Review Officer will contact the person concerned in writing regarding the outcome of their review.
