Bernard Durkan
Question:433. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57497/22]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
433. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57497/22]
View answer434. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57498/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.
Living alone allowance is payable from age 66, with widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension. As the person concerned is under age 66, she does not qualify for this allowance. However, the person concerned was previously in receipt of living alone allowance with disability allowance, in which case it is payable under age 66. She may wish to re-apply for disability allowance, to ascertain if she is financially better off on that payment.
The person concerned is in receipt of fuel allowance since 2020. This year she applied to have the allowance paid in two lump sums. The first lump sum of €462 was paid with her pension on 30/09/2022. The second lump sum will be paid in January 2023. On foot of the cost-of-living measures announced in the budget, the person concerned will receive an extra fuel allowance payment of €400 on Friday 18/11/2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.