John Brady
Ceist:215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending fuel allowance to all those in receipt of carer's allowance. [10245/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 28 February 2018
Ceisteanna (215)
Freagraí scríofa
Fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week to recipients of a qualifying social welfare payment to assist with the energy costs of low-income households. While carer's allowance is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance, it is possible for a person in receipt of a half-rate carer’s allowance and a qualifying social welfare payment to qualify for the scheme.
It is not known how many carer’s allowance recipients would satisfy the household composition requirements to qualify for fuel allowance.
Based on the 2018 estimated recipient numbers of carer’s allowance, the cost of paying fuel allowance to all those in receipt of carer's allowance would be €47.9 million over the 27 weeks of the fuel season. However, this estimated cost would be impacted by the fact that some of these recipients, i.e. those who are paid half-rate carer’s allowance alongside their primary payment, may already be in receipt of a fuel allowance with their primary payment, and others would not qualify for the scheme.