Overview of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme

The Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme consists of a basic payment, called Supplementary Welfare Allowance, and other financial supplements for certain expenses you may not be able to meet, including emergency situations.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) is a weekly payment for people that have insufficient means or no income. For example, SWA can be paid to you while the Department of Social Protection is processing your claim for another payment.

Rent Supplement is a payment to help with the cost of rent for people living in privately rented accommodation.

Mortgage Interest Supplement is a payment to help with the cost of mortgage interest repayments.

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of uniforms and footwear for children at school.

Diet Supplement is a payment to help with the cost of a special diet prescribed by your doctor or hospital consultant.

Heating Supplement is a payment to help people who have extra heating needs with the cost of heating their home. For example, people that are ill or have a disability.

Exceptional Needs Payment is 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. For example, the payments can be for special clothing for a person who has a serious illness, bedding or cooking utensils for someone setting up a home for the first time or costs in relation to funerals.

Urgent Needs Payment is a payment to people in emergency situations. For example, in the case of a fire or flood, you may get a payment to help with the immediate cost of food and clothing.

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is a temporary scheme to provide financial help to people who have been affected by recent flooding.