Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 200

Allowances in kind

Section 200 allows designated persons or deciding officers to provide goods or services instead of cash payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme when exceptional circumstances make this more appropriate.

• In exceptional circumstances, goods or services may be provided instead of all or part of the usual cash payment.
• This applies where a person's needs would be better met through direct provision rather than money.
• For sudden and urgent needs, the usual means test and procedural requirements may be waived entirely.
• The value of any goods or services provided is treated as equivalent to the supplementary welfare allowance amount for the purposes of the scheme.