Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
260. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to change the rules governing the fuel allowance scheme to allow persons on a rural social scheme who hold an underlying entitlement to fuel allowance to apply for this payment after they have commenced on a RSS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45528/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a means tested payment, targeted at those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
Participants on the rural social scheme (RSS) can be paid Fuel Allowance where they had applied for - or were awarded the payment - prior to commencing on the scheme and where they continue to satisfy the conditions.
For the 2016/17 fuel season, the eligibility criteria for the allowance was changed. As a result, a participant in an employment support scheme (which includes the RSS), who had an underlying entitlement to fuel allowance prior to participation on the scheme but was not in receipt of the allowance because another member of the household was receiving it, could apply if these circumstances change (e.g. a social welfare fuel recipient is no longer residing at the address). The fuel allowance can be reviewed and awarded provided the employment support scheme participant satisfies all conditions for receipt of fuel allowance.
Any decision to extend the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance to allow persons on the RSS to accrue entitlement to the allowance while on the scheme would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
