Basis for getting certain SW payment whilst abroad
Basically Department policy for certain categories of SW payment & Recipient's circumstances versus impossible living situation back in Sham[rock] Republic.
Examples
Recipients who are on some very long term SW payments & accepted as never likely to ever get a job again.
SW Pensioners.
Invalidity Pensioners.
Ireland actually has many SW Recipients migrating around Europe trying to stay warm for the winter.
Do not forget it is a criminal offence to be homeless in Ireland ;
The Vagrancy Act.
The Loitering Act [ something like u are not allowed to position yourself in a public space for longer than 20 minutes ] [ Anyway I have no time to get the exact detail of this law ].
And it is very very cold even in most flats.
+ 1 Celsius in Ireland [ Humid Cold ] would be more painful than -20 Celsius in Continental Europe [ Dry Cold ].
Humid Cold gets directly into the Bones or so it feels.
Yeah that's right the Department knew that much more people are homeless than the official figures.
People in Bedsits / Hovels should be classed as Homeless too though not 'Homeless & Roofless'.
U could think that the Department meant this to be a humanitarian concession or a way of saving the State money on Rent Supplement or the cost of actual State housing which they are obliged by Law to provide after certain time on Rent Supplement.
Saving of State expenditure on hospital places etc.
Saving of State expenditure on education courses etc.
Saving of State expenditure on training courses etc.
I could continue .....
Maybe also someone in the Department had the bright insight that someone eased out of Ireland may eventually return to enlighten & maybe bankroll the crazy place as a Billionaire Philanthropist or dead but famous writer or .....
Think of Henry Ford bringing manufacturing plant for Cork, Carnegie for provision of libraries worldwide, James Joyce ...........
Finally, it is not to be lightly entered into, u will most likely be living in poverty but away from hurtful place.