The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who are in receipt of long-term social welfare or health board payments is providing for their heating needs.
To qualify for a fuel allowance an applicant must satisfy a means test. In the case of contributory pensions such as old age contributory, retirement and invalidity pensions, 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. Means in excess of this amount, including money received from the sale of property, are assessed for the purposes of the fuel allowance. Improvements have been made to the fuel allowance scheme in recent budgets. The means test has been eased and the duration of payment has been increased from 26 weeks to 29 weeks.
The increases in recent years in primary social welfare payment rates, such as the old age pension, have also significantly improved in real terms the income position for people in receipt of social welfare payments. In that context the income limit for entitlement to fuel allowance is a reasonable one. I would also point out that fuel allowances are not the sole mechanism through which assistance is provided to people with heating needs. Many households also qualify for electricity and gas allowances. In addition there is a facility available through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs.
In the case in question, the person concerned does not qualify for fuel allowance as his income is above the prescribed limit. He is in receipt of an old age contributory pension and the Department's records indicate that he also has a private pension of more than €56 per week.
The question of changes in the means test is a matter for consideration in a budgetary context.
