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Fuel Allowance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020

Thursday, 1 October 2020

Ceisteanna (194)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

194. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if the fuel allowance eligibility criteria will be reviewed for those in receipt of the full-rate carer's allowance. [27707/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to an average of 352,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261.35 million in 2020.  The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.  The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.  It is not intended to meet those costs in full.  Only one allowance is paid per household.

My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €194 million in 2020.  This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year. 

The Government values the role of carers very much and it is for this reason that they receive significant income supports from the Department.  In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers receive additional support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who live with the person for whom they care) and the annual Carer's Support Grant (€1,700) in respect of each person for whom they care. 

Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment, and a Carer will very often live with and be caring for a person in receipt of a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.  Income from full rate Carer's Allowance is disregarded from the fuel means test if the carer is providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, his/her qualified spouse / civil partner or cohabitant or qualified child(ren).

If a person is getting certain qualifying social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, s/he can keep his/her main social protection payment in addition to receiving the half-rate Carer's Allowance.  S/he can also receive an extra half-rate Carer’s Allowance if s/he cares for more than one person.  It should also be noted that the payment of half-rate Carer’s Allowance does not preclude a person from qualifying for Fuel Allowance.  If a person is in receipt of a non-contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance, then s/he is deemed to have satisfied the means test and Fuel Allowance is payable, subject to all remaining criteria being satisfied.  If a person is in receipt of a contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance then s/he will have to satisfy a means test in order to qualify for Fuel Allowance.

Any decision to amend the criteria for receiving Fuel Allowance, to include Carer’s Allowance as a qualifying payment, would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context. 

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources and this may include an exceptional heating cost.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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