Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2019
203. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be entitled to the fuel allowance due to changes proposed in budget 2020; when changes will come into force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43738/19]
View answerFuel allowance, under the National fuel scheme, may be payable to certain households in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments who are unable to provide for their heating needs. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.
An application for fuel allowance was received from the gentleman concerned on 06 June 2019. The weekly household means were assessed as being in excess of the allowable weekly income limit for fuel allowance. The application for fuel allowance was disallowed and he was notified of the decision and the reasons for it on 04 July 2019. Following a review of his application, Fuel Allowance has now been awarded from 14 February 2019. First payment and all arrears due form 14 February 2019 will issue to his nominated bank account on 24 October 2019. He was notified of this decision on 21 October 2019.
Budget 2020 provided for a €2 increase in the weekly Fuel Allowance rate payable with effect from January 2020 however there have been no changes to the qualifying criteria for receipt of Fuel Allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
