Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
384. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering the excluding of maintenance payments made by social welfare recipients in the calculation of weekly means in determining eligibility for the free fuel allowance; if she considers it fair and reasonable to include such regular outgoing payments as means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2453/24]
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 including a means test and the household composition criteria. The means test ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
The means test does not take account of a person’s expenditure commitments or income tax circumstances. Allowing deductions in means assessed for outgoings would significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes.
Where a person has maintenance obligations on foot of a Court order and they find that they can no longer afford to meet those obligations, for example because their circumstances have changed, it is open to that person to seek to have the Court review the order in light of their changed income position.
In terms of those receiving maintenance payments, I am currently bringing legislation through the Oireachtas to provide that maintenance received will not be counted as part of the means test under social welfare schemes. This will benefit 16,000 parents at an estimated cost of €10m a year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
