Many people in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment are wholly reliant on their Jobseeker’s payment as a primary source of household income on a week to week basis. Any disruption to that payment can have significant consequences for the person, and their household, in relation to basic income needs, payment of rent, household bills and shopping / groceries etc.
Where a person has been offered employment, and that employment is paid on a monthly basis, the prospect surrendering their Jobseeker’s payment to take up employment, and experiencing a multiple week period between their last Jobseeker’s payment and their first payment from work, can seem impossible to manage, and could prove to be a possible disincentive in taking up employment. This is particularly prevalent where they have no other source of income, and cannot seek to rely on any savings, to bridge the gap.
Mindful of this potential disincentive, the Department of Social Protection (DSP) can make available a payment through the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) payment scheme. The payment, known as ‘Payment Pending Wages’, can be made for up to 30 days for anyone returning to work where they would no longer qualify for a Jobseekers payment because they are in full-time employment but where may have to wait for the first payment of their wages at the end of the month, and would in effect have no weekly income. The ‘Payment Pending Wages’ payment is means tested, but importantly, is not repayable to the department when the person receives their wages.
In general, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme can provide a weekly payment to people who do not have enough income to meet their needs, and those of their families, due to circumstances beyond their control. It is there to act as a bridge when there is a delay between the submission and processing a social welfare claim and the actual time of receipt of a payment, or while a person waiting on the outcome of a review or appeal of a decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) is paid as a weekly payment, at a rate of €2 less than that of the main social welfare payment. For applicants with families and dependents they could also apply for the Qualified Child Increase and / or the Qualified Adult Increase. The payment is means tested and subject to the same conditions as any of the social assistance payments, including Jobseeker’s Allowance, with two added conditions. First of all, the person must have already applied for whichever benefit/allowance they are claiming, and secondly, if they are of working age, they must register for work with their local Intreo office.
Anyone who feels that they need this payment should speak with their Intreo Case Officer or contact the INOU for information and assistance on (01) 856 0088 or by contact form linked here.