Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2022
316. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of fuel allowance applications that were refused in each of the past three years nationwide in cases in which the person living in the home of the applicant was on a non-qualifying social protection payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22077/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
As at the end of December 2021, there were almost 375,000 Fuel Allowance recipients. Common disallowance reasons include where the means of the customer or household exceeds the permissible threshold; the applicant resides with a non-qualified person (for example, someone in employment); or the applicant resides with another person who is already in receipt of fuel allowance. Where an application is disallowed, it is open to the person to re-apply if there is a change in their circumstances.
Precise information on the number of applications disallowed, including due to a person living in the home of the applicant who was on a non-qualifying social welfare payment, is not readily available,
The Government is acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government announced additional expenditure measures of €505 million. As part of these measures, I announced an additional lump sum payment of €125 to households in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. This additional lump sum was paid in March 2022 at an estimated cost of €49 million.
The National Energy Security Framework includes provision for a further additional lump sum payment of €100 to be paid to all households in receipt of fuel allowance in the last week of the (2021/22) fuel allowance season – a payment equivalent to over 3 weeks additional fuel allowance. It is planned to make this additional €100 fuel allowance payment in mid-May.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, discretionary payments can be made to help people with the cost of heating their homes. A Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity who cannot meet those costs. My Department also provides discretionary Exceptional Needs Payments to people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
