Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 196

Calculation of supplementary welfare allowance

Section 196 sets out how Supplementary Welfare Allowance is calculated by comparing a person's weekly needs against their weekly means.

• The allowance equals the amount by which a person's means fall short of their assessed needs, though this basic rule is subject to penalty reductions for failing to attend activation meetings or participate in prescribed schemes.
• Weekly needs are based on standard rates under section 197, but for those with means, the amount is reduced euro for euro — every €1 of weekly means reduces the allowance by €1.
• For married couples, civil partners, or cohabitants living together, both partners' needs and means are combined and treated as belonging to the claimant; similarly, a qualified child's needs are included in the claimant's calculation.
• Where one person's needs are already counted in another person's entitlement calculation, only that other person may receive the allowance, preventing double claims within the same household.