Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
920. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households receiving the over-70s fuel allowance; if there is a breakdown by local area, in tabular form, including Dún Laoghaire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2068/23]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist long-term social welfare dependent householders and those aged 70 and over 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 instalment payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
I was pleased, as part of the Social Protection Budget 2023 Package of €2.2 billion, to announce that I had secured funding for the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme. It is estimated that the changes introduced will see up to 81,000 additional households qualify for the scheme.
There is a more streamlined process in place for applicants aged 70 and over. A new online Fuel Allowance application service was made available on MyWelfare on 5 December 2022, which makes it easier and quicker for customers to apply for the payment, at a time and place that suits them.
As at the end of December 2022, almost 8,600 recipients aged 70 and over had been awarded Fuel Allowance since the start of the 2022/23 fuel allowance season on 26 September 2022. Of these, some 4,300 applicants qualified with effect from January 2023, when the new measures for the over 70s take effect. While it is not possible to provide a local area breakdown, I am informed that almost 900 of these newly qualified households have an address in Dublin.
This is the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme and applications are being processed as quickly as possible. Applicants who qualify for the payment will receive their full entitlement which will be backdated as appropriate.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
