Cost-of-living crisis sees huge surge in additional needs payments from the State

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that 97,224 additional needs payments were awarded in 2022, compared to 55,552 in 2021. File picture: iStock

The number of households granted additional needs payments by the Government almost doubled last year as families were hit by the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that 97,224 additional needs payments were awarded in 2022, compared to 55,552 in 2021. It comes as the Society of St Vincent de Paul has said it received the largest number of calls from people seeking support last year since the depths of the economic crash.