Patricia Ryan
Question:320. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if assistance will be provided given the circumstances. [5710/24]
View answerWednesday, 7 February 2024
Questions (320)
Written answers
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 27 June 2023. Based on the information provided to my Department, the person concerned was awarded the maximum personal rate of Disability Allowance with effect from 5 July 2023, with their first payment been made via their chosen payment method on 6 September 2023. The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing via correspondence dated 30 August 2023.
DA arrears, covering the period 5 July 2023 to 5 September 2023, issued to the person concerned on 30 August 2023. I can also confirm that the person concerned received the €400.00 cost of living bonus on 22 November 2023 and the additional week's payment on 6 December 2023 and 31 January 2024.
Fuel Allowance is an administrative (non-statutory) scheme and is payable to people who satisfy the conditions of the scheme and who either live alone or only with certain qualified people. As part of the initial application for DA, the DO assessed the persons concerned entitlement to Fuel Allowance. Based on the information supplied, it was decided that the person concerned did not have an entitlement to the fuel allowance as their household consisted of persons who were not in a qualifying category for Fuel Allowance.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 30 August 2023. They were also informed that if their circumstances changed, they should make a new application for the fuel allowance.
The person concerned submitted a further application for Fuel Allowance on 18 October 2023. Based on the information supplied, it was decided that the person concerned did not have an entitlement to the fuel allowance as their household consisted of persons who were not in a qualifying category for Fuel Allowance. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 29 December 2023. They were also informed that if their circumstances changed, they should make a new application for the fuel allowance.
The person concerned may wish to make an application to the Community Welfare Officer based in their local Intreo office for an Additional Needs payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.