Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1042. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the fuel allowance threshold for people who live alone in Budget 2024, considering that it costs the same to heat a home regardless of the amount of people there, and that the threshold for a couple is double that for someone living alone. [38705/23]
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 €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
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. 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.
As part of the overall welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 Billion, a number of considerable reforms were made to the Fuel Allowance Scheme including the introduction of changes for those aged over 70.
These reforms included a new means threshold for those aged over 70 of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. The means threshold is based on gross income. The increased allowable means threshold for people who are married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership acknowledges that the overall cost of living for this cohort is higher than for a single person and the fact that the Department pays an Increase for a Qualified Adult on many of its primary payments is recognition of this.
The Government will continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation closely and how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments who are at risk of fuel poverty. However, any further widening of the thresholds for accessing the fuel allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
Finally, my Department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
