Discuss the payment of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance in Ireland’s system of income maintenance.

In discussing the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (S.W.A) this essay will give a brief description of its inception into Ireland’s income maintenance system and will provide a brief outline of the different types of payment under the scheme.   This essay will show the method in which it is administered and the costs involved in the scheme.   The discussion will outline some of the major advantages and disadvantages as well as the S.W.A objectives and how they are compatible with other organisations.   Finally this essay will look at how the scheme is viewed by organisations concerned with the S.W.A

The Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Bill was introduced in 1975, by the then Parliament secretary of Minister of Social Welfare Frank Cluskey with these words ‘‘I regard this as an important step forward in the development of the Social Services and one that is long overdue. The Poor Law was the legal embodiment of the attitudes of the last century, harsh and unfeeling attitudes which should have no place in the society of today.’ ‘The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is designed to fulfil a residual and support role within the overall income maintenance structure’. (Cluskey F. 1975 cited in Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA), 2004, p.17). It did not come into effect until July 1977 and the main aim was to provide a minimum weekly income for people residing in the state. There are a number of different types of payment under the S.W.A

These are a Basic payment which is paid out to people with either no income or an income lower than the S.W.A to bring them up to this level.   This type is known as a non-interim basic payment and is normally paid on a weekly basis.   Sick no Benefit is a payment to people who are sick and not receiving a primary payment (this can be unemployment assistance or unemployment benefit) from the Department... [continues]

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