Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
444. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person with an income under €500 will qualify for the fuel allowance in 2023 if they are in receipt of a local authority pension and are not in receipt of any social protection payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting more than 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. 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. Only one allowance is paid per household.
In Budget 2023, I announced that, from January 2023, a new means threshold will be introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new means threshold will be €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.
This measure seeks to ensure that older people not currently in receipt of Fuel Allowance but who are marginally outside the thresholds will now be covered by the scheme. This reform is being introduced because older people can often be more vulnerable to the effects of energy poverty.
Those aged over 70 will no longer be required to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment but will still have to satisfy all other relevant qualifying criteria.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
