Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
458. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person applying for fuel allowance has to meet all four conditions in relation to who they reside with, or if satisfying any one out of the four conditions is sufficient in order to qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59478/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
To satisfy the household composition requirement, an applicant must live alone or only with:
- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the Qualified Adult is in receipt of half rate Carer’s Allowance, in addition to the IQA payment, they may qualify for Fuel Allowance, subject to a means test)
OR
- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right
OR
- a person who is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit in respect of providing full-time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren).
OR
- a person receiving short-term Jobseeker's Allowance or Basic SWA (less than 312 days for JA and less than 12 months/364 days for SWA).
If an applicant lives with anyone other than those outlined above, then Fuel Allowance is not payable.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
