Michael Ring
Ceist:442 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused a fuel allowance. [11336/01]
Written Answers - Social Welfare Payments.
One of the conditions for receipt of the fuel allowance is that the claimant and members of his/her household must not have a combined income of more than £30 per week above the maximum rate of old age contributory pension appropriate to the household. The person concerned applied for a fuel allowance in September 2000 and again in February 2001. On each occasion, her application was disallowed as her income, derived from her British widow's pension, exceeded the maximum limit for receipt of the allowance, at that time, £126.00 per week. From 6 April 2001, as part of budget 2000 improvements, the maximum weekly personal rate of old age contributory pension was increased to £106.00, raising the income limit for fuel allowance in this case to £136.00. Arising from this, the person concerned now qualifies for the fuel allowance with effect from 6 April 2001. A cheque for £15 in respect of the final three week period of the 2000-01 heating season will issue to her shortly.