What is the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA)?

The SWA is a weekly allowance paid to people who do not have enough means to meet their needs and those of their qualified adult or any qualified children.

Means = the money and other resources that somebody has to live on.

What are CWO’s and what do they do?

Community Welfare Officers (CWO’s) are usually based in Health centres.                                                   

Their main work is giving out the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme.

The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme covers:

1. Supplementary Welfare Allowance
2. Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplements
3. Special Needs Supplements
4. Exceptional Needs Supplements
5. Urgent Needs 
6. Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance

How do I qualify for SWA?

You will normally qualify for SWA if you

1. satisfy a means test
2. have applied for certain other social welfare payments
3. have registered for work with FAS if you are of working age
4. normally live in Ireland

You will not qualify for SWA if you are

1. working full-time, that is, 30 hours or more a week
2. in full-time education
3. involved in a trade dispute

However, you may still claim SWA for a qualified adult or any qualified children.

What is a Means Test and what does it involve?

The Means Test checks if you have enough money to support yourself and what amount of support payment, if any, you may qualify for.

Your means includes:

1. All cash income, including most social welfare and HSE payments except Child Benefit,   Domiciliary Care Allowance and Blind Welfare Allowance.
2. Investments, savings or property (except your own home)
3. The value of any benefit or privilege e.g. not paying rent.

If you are married or living with a partner as husband and wife, your incomes are added together for the means test.

How much can I get?

Basic SWA is made up of a personal rate for you and increases if you have children.

If you have no means you will qualify for the maximum amount of the allowance.

If you have low means you may qualify for a payment to bring your income up to the maximum appropriate rate of SWA.

How do I get my SWA PAYMENT?

You may get your SWA directly into your bank account or by cheque or post draft.