Independent Cllr Declan Kelly is calling on Minister Heather Humphreys to review the ‘cumbersome’ process around applying for the Additional Needs Payment.
Cllr Kelly has said that he knows of a number of instances where, he says, people are effectively being made to ‘jump through hoops’ to get the financial assistance.
“The Additional Needs Payment is an important support for people who have been struggling to pay rising energy bills or covering other significant costs.
“Just a few weeks ago, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection stated that if it is clear that a person is in immediate need of assistance, a payment should issue the very day they make the application.
“Despite that statement, I have seen communications to constituents from social protection officials requesting much more additional information than I would consider reasonable and even asking them to confirm again that the payment is for what they have already stated it was for.
“This is not just unacceptable but outrageous and adds additional stress to people already struggling in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis”.
Previously criticised for eight and nine week waiting lists for applicants to have their claims processed, The Additional Needs Payment was introduced in June of this year in an effort to help applicants to cover an expense that can not be covered by their income, like fuel and heating payments, funeral costs and deposits for private rented accommodation.
Cllr Kelly says that he has made a formal complaint regarding the issue to Minister Heather Humphreys.
“I have therefore written to Minister Heather Humphreys to make a formal complaint about the fact that people are effectively being made to jump through hoops for the payment and I have also requested that the cumbersome process around applications be made more efficient.
“There is no reason why this process cannot be made more efficient right now.”
