Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
615. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe to process supplementary welfare allowance applications per county, in tabular form; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51237/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system and helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports available under the SWA scheme, can consist of a basic weekly payment, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs). The SWA scheme is administered by Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in the Community Welfare Service (CWS), taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
It is important to note that, where my officials are aware that a customer has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the person in question receives a prompt service, usually on the same day.
When considering an application from people in financial difficulty for any payment under the SWA scheme, the CWO must consider all the relevant circumstances when examining a case in determining the most appropriate scheme type and level of assistance required. The CWO may ask for a number of supporting documents to ensure the customer receives a level of payment appropriate to their needs.
Where an application is complete and accompanied by the required documentation, an application for a Basic SWA is generally processed within 1 week and where the application relates to an ANP it is generally processed in ten working days. However, where an application is not finalised within this timeframe, the delay is generally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the person to support their application.
My Department currently does not hold statistics relative to the processing times of SWA payments per county. However, I can assure the Deputy that presently there are no backlogs in SWA claims and work on hand is within normal CWS processing levels.
The CWS is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
