Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
416. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of old-age pensioners who have been deemed ineligible for the fuel allowance due to residing with someone who does not qualify for the payment; and the number of OAPs deemed ineligible for the fuel allowance due to residing with an adult child, from 2018 to date. [42401/23]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders 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 instalments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
The Department does not report on specific cohorts. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the number deemed ineligible for the fuel allowance due to residing with an adult child.
The Department generally collates data on an annual basis. Departmental records indicate that, during the period from January 2018 up to and inclusive of August 2023 (i.e. 31.08.23), 38,188 old-age pensioners were disallowed Fuel Allowance as they were considered to reside in an unqualified household at the time of decision, as per table below:
|
Year |
Disallowed* |
|
2018 |
5,294 |
|
2019 |
5,087 |
|
2020 |
5,936 |
|
2021 |
6,065 |
|
2022 |
8,187 |
|
2023 |
7,619 |
|
Total |
38,188 |
* Some customers may have been disallowed the Fuel Allowance in more than one of the above years.
It should also be noted that some of those included in the statistics above may have subsequently qualified for fuel allowance at a later stage.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
