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THE MAJORITY OF applications for emergency social welfare payments are taking up to eight weeks to finalise, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed. 

In 95% of applications for the additional needs payment – which is used to cover basic necessities such as food, clothing, fuel and utility bills – it is taking between five to eight weeks to fully process the payment.

The figure was revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question by Sinn Féin’s social protection spokesperson Claire Kerrane.

The Department of Social Protection said “it is estimated that more than 50% of applications for Additional Needs Payments are finalised within 2 – 4 weeks”.

The department said where an application is not finalised within this timeframe, it is generally due to additional information or documentation being requested from the customer to support their application.

The department said it wished to provide assurances that that claim processing “is kept under active review and we will continue in our efforts to further improve the service”. 

The number of applications for the payment has increased dramatically in recent months as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.

In July, the department received 17,000 applications, while in June, 15,000 applications were received. In May the number of applications received was 11,700.

That was a jump of over 10,000 applications on April’s figures, when just 6,500 applications were received. 

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said an extensive campaign launched by her department to make people more aware of the payment has worked. 

The minister told The Journal that she is glad that people are taking up that option “because that is the safety net for people who find themselves in difficulty”.

While Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath has urged people in need to contact the Department of Social Protection if they are struggling to pay bills, concerns have been raised by a Sinn Féin TD and St Vincent De Paul about the delays in processing the payments.

Tricia Keilthy, Head of Social Justice and Policy at the St Vincent De Paul, said the issue of wait times and processing times has always been a feature of the service.

However, she said as the demand for the payment increases, it’s going to become more of a pressure point.

“If people are in desperate situations, obviously, we’re worried about the impact of that on people,” she told The Journal.

The additional needs payment is a payment available to any person who cannot pay an expense from their weekly income.

A person can receive the payment even if they are working and are not getting a social welfare payment. Those on social welfare can also avail of the payment, but it is also there for those on low incomes. 

The overall expenditure on the additional needs payment for the period from January to end of July 2022 amounted to €28.3 million, The Journal can confirm.

The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the additional needs payment this year.

In order to be eligible, weekly income limits are set at €350 for a single person, €450 for a couple with no children and between €551 and €1,318 depending on the number of children in the household. 

However, even with the criteria set out, community welfare officers can ultimately use their own discretion and decide upon a person’s circumstances. 

Under the scheme, an additional needs payment is made to people who need help with fuel, utility bills, repairs to or replacement of household appliances, clothing, child related items such as prams, and assistance with funerals and travel.

Keilthy said one example of what the payment is used for is the fixing of washing machines or fridges in family homes. 

“One issue that comes up regularly for us is it [the payment] is available if you have any white goods. So if the washing machine breaks or the fridge goes, you can access support. But what happens is, you’re asked for an engineer’s report, which can cost €70,” she said, stating that this takes time and is another expense for people.

“In the meantime, you have no washing machine or you have no fridge,” she said.

While these payments are needed for unexpected and sudden expenses foisted on people, and with the department confirming that it is taking up to two months for applications to be processed, Keilthy said more staff resources are needed.

Support in a timely manner

In their recent pre-budget submission, the SVP advocated for an increase in funding and resources for frontline services for the additional needs payment and the community welfare service, “so that they could speed up processing times and ensure that people who do need assistance with these kind of vital needs can get the support in a timely manner”, she Keilthy.

Keilthy welcomed the awareness campaign, and the fact that a centralised phone number for people to call up was rolled out so that people did not physically have to go into a social welfare office as well as the changes that allow those working more than 30 hours can now qualify for the payments.

“What it really comes down to is we’re talking about one-off or discretionary payments. The reality is people need this money on a recurring basis and that’s why the core rates of the social welfare rates and minimum wage, they need to go up.

“We can’t be relying on discretionary payments for people to be able to meet the basic needs like food and energy,” she said.

The SVP is calling for a €20 increase in social welfare rates in Budget 2023.

“If people are falling short every week on the basics, then that really goes back to the inadequacy of the social welfare system in the first place, because it was intended to be an exceptional needs payment, now it’s an additional needs payment, but really it’s about addressing the needs in the first place rather than trying to rely on a discretionary system,” she said.

Related Reads 14.08.22 Jump in emergency welfare payments reflects what's happening on the ground for families, says SVP 06.08.22 17,000 apply for emergency social welfare payments for food, fuel and clothing in July alone

Sinn Féin’s social protection spokesperson, who received the reply from the department about the delays, described the current processing time for what are supposed to be emergency payment as “frightening”.

“The idea that a person in an emergency situation seeking urgent financial assistance is left waiting up to two months for a decision is unacceptable.

“This payment has been heavily promoted by Government representatives in recent months, people in difficulty have been urged to apply for the Additional Needs Payment,” said Kerrane 

“I had asked the Minister months ago to put the payment online allowing people the option to apply and upload the necessary documentation online, I was assured my suggestion was being examined by Department officials – nothing has happened,” she added.

Kerrane said she is also concerned about the removal of Community Welfare Officers from the community, stating that centralising this essential community service is making it more difficult, “especially for vulnerable citizens to access emergency support in what used to be a walk-in service”, she said. 

“The demand for this payment is only going one way. Minister Humphreys must intervene and take immediate action to do whatever necessary to get the processing times down. She should put the payment online as another option for people and she needs to return Community Welfare Officers to the community so they can be easily accessed by those who need support. Additional staff are clearly needed,” she said.

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