Vol. 511 No. 3
265 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will reconsider his position on entitlement to the fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme in view of the fact that elderly pensioners are being denied this on the grounds that a member of their household is earning more than £30 gross per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24104/99]
The aim of the national fuel scheme (NFS) is to assist householders who are on long-term social welfare or health board payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. A payment of £5 per week, £8 per week in smokeless fuel zones, is paid to eligible households for 26 weeks from mid October to mid April regardless of the temperature.
The conditions that apply to the national fuel scheme require that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test and satisfy the living alone condition.
To satisfy the living alone condition a person must be either living alone or with, a dependant spouse or partner, a dependant child, a carer for the applicant, a person in receipt of a qualifying payment from my Department or a person in receipt of short-term unemployment assistance.
If the applicant has a combined household income of over £30 per week in excess of the relevant maximum contributory pension or savings of over £22,400 or is living in a household with a person in a category that is not provided for in the living alone conditions set out above, then the applicant is not eligible for a fuel allowance.
