John Cregan
Ceist:601 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason fuel allowance is not being awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [31132/03]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The aim of the national fuel scheme is to assist householders who receive certain qualifying payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs or a health board and who are unable to provide for their heating needs. A fuel allowance payment of €9 per week is paid to eligible households while an additional allowance of €3.90 per week is paid in areas where there is a ban on the sale of bituminous fuel, bringing the total amount payable in those areas to €12.90 per week. These payments are made for the duration of the fuel season, which lasts for 29 weeks. The person in question does not qualify for a fuel allowance as he is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance on an interim basis pending the outcome of an appeal in relation to a claim for disability allowance. Supplementary welfare allowance paid on an interim basis pending the determination of entitlement to a primary social welfare payment is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance.