Operational Guidelines: SWA - Heating Supplement
- Published on: 18 October 2011
- Last updated on: 19 March 2026
Description
The purpose of a Heating Supplement is to provide assistance with the additional costs of heating where a customer or their adult or child dependants have exceptional heating needs due to ill health or infirmity.
Relevant Legislation
- Section 198 (1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 as amended
- Article 38(2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 2007 as amended
Qualifying conditions
In order to qualify for a Heating Supplement the claimant must have additional heating costs due to the ill-health or infirmity of the claimant or their dependants.
A supplement may be paid in respect of such exceptional heating needs where the claimant satisfies the general conditions of entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
Heating Supplement may be paid where the applicant is living alone or only with a dependent adult /dependent children. However, a Heating Supplement may still be paid where this condition is not met, if the Designated Persons feels the circumstances are exceptional.