Joe Walsh
Question:162 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost in a full year of increasing the fuel allowance to £6, £7 or £8 per week; and the cost of raising the means limit from £5 to £10 per week. [2152/95]
Written Answers. - Fuel Allowance.
The National Fuel Scheme assists householders who are on long term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. In order to qualify for a fuel allowance, applicants must be living alone or only with dependants and/or other qualified recipients. A contributory pensioner and members of his household, can have means of up to £5 a week over and above his contributory pension, and qualify for the fuel allowance.
The estimated annual cost of increasing the weekly rate of fuel allowance from £5 to £6, £7 and £8 is set out in the tabular statement below:—
|
Increase in fuel allowance |
Cost in full year |
|
|
£ million |
||
|
from £5 to £6 |
= |
7.3 |
|
from £5 to £7 |
= |
14.7 |
|
from £5 to £8 |
= |
22.0 |
The estimated annual cost of increasing the £5 means limit to £10 is less than £100,000.