Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
459. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) has been refused fuel allowance given that they only live with their spouse who is a person in receipt of carer's allowance as per the qualifying criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.
One of the conditions for receipt of the fuel allowance is that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and live alone or only with a dependent spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant and/or dependent children or other persons who are getting a qualifying payment and who would be eligible for a Fuel Allowance in their own right.
If the applicant is residing with a person in receipt of the full rate Carer’s allowance, the carer must be providing full time care and attention to the Fuel allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren). In this case, their spouse is in receipt of the Carer’s allowance for a person not resident in the household. As the person concerned is not residing with persons who are in receipt of a qualifying payment, the application for Fuel allowance was disallowed on 09 November 2022.
It is open to the spouse of the person concerned to apply for an Increase for a qualified adult on their spouse's State Pension (contributory). They can receive this payment and a half-rate Carer's Allowance. Depending on their means, the payment of an increase for a Qualified Adult and a half rate Carers allowance may be financially more beneficial to them. Payment of half-rate carer’s allowance does not preclude a person from qualifying for fuel allowance, however they will undergo a means test for fuel allowance. I have arranged for an application to issue for the Increase for a qualified adult.
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 exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
