Drop in additional needs payments for Cork residents

The number of Cork people allocated additional needs payments to help with essential expenses has dropped 34% in three years, new figures show.

Fewer people are being awarded this funding both in Cork and across Ireland and, while the amount of people applying for the payments has fallen, so has the percentage of people who receive them, with a rise in disallowed applications.

Essential expenses 

Dara Calleary, minister for social protection, said that under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, his department may make additional needs payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income.

“Additional needs payments can have a wide-range value as the amount paid will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings, and the type of assistance needed. Payments are made for large items, such as help provided in setting up a home for the first time, and smaller weekly supplements to assist with ongoing costs. Average payments are not collated as they would have no meaning in these circumstances."

Last year, 5,167 people were allocated additional needs payments, down 12% from 2024, 26% from 2023, and 34% from 2022.

The amount of people who registered for these payments has also dropped, from 11,733 in 2022 to 10,641 in 2025.

The figures mean that 48% of people who applied for the payment in 2025 had it awarded, down from 54% in 2024, 59% in 2023, and 67% in 2022.

Disallowed

There were 2,012 payments disallowed last year, down slightly from 2,089 the previous year, but up from 1,949 in 2023 and 1,791 in 2022.

Mr Calleary explained that the discrepancy between the amount registered for and the amount awarded or disallowed was due to the figures not including the number of claims that have been withdrawn, cancelled, or are awaiting further information.