Dinny McGinley
Ceist:113 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is the policy of her Department to remove the means test for the national fuel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24746/02]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The aim of the national fuel scheme 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. Eligibility is subject to a means test. People who qualify for means tested pensions or allowances such as old age non-contributory pension, unemployment assistance or one-parent family payment automatically qualify for fuel allowance. The majority of people who receive fuel allowances qualify because they satisfy the relevant means test for their primary weekly payment.
In addition, special arrangements have been in place for a number of years which allow people who are participating on approved employment schemes such as back to work allowance and community employment to retain entitlement to secondary benefits, including the fuel allowance, subject to a weekly household income limit of €317.43.
In the case of contributory pensions such as old age contributory, retirement and invalidity pensions, which are not means tested, a person may have a combined household income of up to €50.79 per week or savings/investments of up to €41,901.35 over and above their pension and still qualify for fuel allowance.
The means test has been eased in recent years enabling more people to qualify. Easing the means test, rather than abolishing it, ensures that the people who benefit are those whose incomes are in the next income band above the previous income limit. In this way, the available resources are better targeted.
Any further changes would have to be considered in the context of the budget and in light of alternative proposals for delivering improvements in social welfare supports to pensioners and others.