Joan Burton TD, Minister for Social Protection, today (29 June) reminded people affected by flooding that there is help available from the Department of Social Protection.

She said that under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single payment to help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. These payments are known as exceptional needs payments (ENP)

In addition to the payment of ENPs, SWA legislation also provides for assistance in the form of an urgent needs payment. In certain circumstances, this payment can be made to people who would not normally be entitled to SWA. Examples of situations where such assistance may be provided would be in the aftermath of flooding or a domestic fire where the immediate needs, such as food, clothing, fuel, household goods and perhaps shelter, of the people affected may be met by a UNP in cash or in kind.

In response to the current flooding situation, Departmental Officials (former Community Welfare Officers) are providing people with emergency payments to offset immediate needs e.g. assistance with the purchase of food, clothing, fuel and household goods. Officials have made house to house calls to people they have identified as being vulnerable at this difficult time. In addition emergency clinics may be established if required to offer help to households.

The relevant contact details for people in Cork affected by the flooding are:

For South Lee catchment – (021) 4923116/(021) 4923111 [Call for details of clinic location closest to customer]

For North Lee catchment – (021) 4923856 [Call for details of clinic location closest to customer]

For Clonakilty area – 023 / 8833049 [Community Welfare Office, O'Rahilly Street, Clonakilty]

People in other parts of the country experiencing hardship as a result of the recent flooding should contact the local Departmental officer administering the SWA scheme who may be able to offer assistance.

See also http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Pages/SupplementaryWelfareAllowance_urgentneeds.aspx