Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1101. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider removing the rule that pensioners lose their living alone allowance and fuel allowance when their child moves back into their home due to the housing crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29426/22]
View answerThe living alone allowance and the fuel allowance payment are considered secondary, or non-primary payments which is incorporated into the person’s qualifying payment. The effect of the allowances is to increase the rate of payment to qualifying people.
The qualifying criteria for these payments are designed to ensure the payments go to those who need them the most. In the case of the living alone allowance it recognises that there are economies of scale associated with living with another person. With regards to the fuel allowance payment, it ensures that it goes to those who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and who require support with heating their home in the winter period.
The adult child of a householder moving back into the family home might reduce such additional allowances previously held by the householder. However, the economies of scale from living together should mean that a weekly contribution by the person moving in would compensate for any such reduction in payments from my Department.
Significant costs would arise if the criteria were relaxed in the manner suggested by the Deputy and any decision to change the criteria for these schemes would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations
Finally, the Department of Social Protection operates an Additional Needs Payment as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have additional needs, which they cannot meet from their own resources. This payment is detailed on the Department's website at www.gov.ie/anp and is available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
