Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2023
148. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make the benefit payment for 65-year-olds a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44413/23]
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.
Qualifying payments for fuel allowance are those payments that are considered long-term payments and an applicant must also satisfy a means test. People on long-term payments are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and are more vulnerable to poverty, including energy poverty. It is for this reason that the Department allocates additional payments, supports and resources to help this cohort of claimants.
The Benefit Payment for 65 Year Old's is a short-term payment for people aged 65 who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. It is not a means tested payment. Accordingly, it is not a qualifying payment for receipt of fuel allowance.
Any decision to include the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Old's as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance would be a fundamental change to scheme policy and would have to be carefully considered.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential 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.
