Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
902. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in the case of 80-year-olds, she will consider the widening of the income brackets to qualify for fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57120/23]
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 €382 million in 2024. 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 Minister for Social Protection, I was pleased to introduce a new means test for over 70s last year. The means threshold for those aged over 70 is now €512 for a single person and €1,024 for a couple and is based on gross income. In addition, for people aged 70 or over, the amount of capital (savings and investments) that is disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. Capital means over €50,000 are assessed on a tapered level.
Any further widening of the thresholds for accessing the fuel allowance scheme for those aged 80 or over 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 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.
