Hundreds of households across Cork were affected by the severe cold snap, which saw heavy snowfall and temperatures reaching a low of -8ºC.
The wintery conditions have damaged several homes and businesses, leaving many needing financial support. Thankfully, emergency schemes are in place to provide aid to people affected by severe weather events.
The Community Welfare Service operates nationally across all areas of the country and is available to assist customers in need. Payments available through Community Welfare Services include the Additional Needs Payment, Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance Supplements and Rent Supplement.
An Additional Needs Payment is a payment available to you if you have essential expenses that you cannot pay from your weekly income or other personal and household resources.
You may get this payment even if you are not getting a social welfare payment. It may be available to you if you are working and on a low income, regardless of the number of hours that you work.
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families.
A Supplementary Welfare Allowance supplement may be paid to assist you meet ongoing additional expenses which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
Rent Supplement is a payment for some people living in private rented housing who cannot provide for the cost of their housing from their own income.
How to apply
Additional Needs Payments can be applied for online at MyWelfare.ie.
To apply for other payments under the Community Welfare Service, you can:
- collect an application form in any Intreo Centre or Branch Office
- request for an application form to be posted to you through the online form here
- download the SWA1 form.