Skip to main content
Normal View

Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2021

Wednesday, 3 November 2021

Questions (123)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

123. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the fuel allowance for a pensioner (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53521/21]

View answer

Written answers

Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs.

The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons.

Disablement Benefit is not currently a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance and when a person in a household is in receipt of Disablement Benefit, the household is not entitled to Fuel Allowance. The only exception is where the person on Disablement Benefit is also in receipt of Incapacity Supplement.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is in receipt of State pension (Contributory) and Disablement Benefit.

Therefore, the person concerned does not satisfy the eligibility conditions for fuel allowance. There is no scope for discretion to be applied where a claimant fails to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the scheme.

However, under my Department's Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a special Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs. This is payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the legislative requirements and all the relevant circumstances of the case. Applications for a Heating Supplement may be made to the person’s local Intreo Office administering Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

Also, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet essential, once-off costs which applicants are unable to meet out of their own resources – this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Top
Share