Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021
124. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was denied the fuel allowance for the winter when their household received the fuel allowance for years prior to their spouse passing earlier in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62119/21]
View answerFuel 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.
An application for fuel allowance from the person concerned was received by my Department on 20 October 2021. A member of their household is currently in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit, which is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance.
Since the qualifying conditions for the scheme are not satisfied, the person’s application for fuel allowance was disallowed and they were notified in writing of this decision on 2 December 2021.
If the person’s circumstances change, it is open to them to reapply for fuel allowance.
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.
