Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2023
392. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on a fuel allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-examined; if a full breakdown of the assessment will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6620/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments and persons aged over 70 towards the cost of their winter heating needs. From January 2023, for applicants aged 70 and over, there is a new means test limit of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple; the capital disregard threshold has been increased from €20,000 to €50,000; and those over age 70 no longer need to be in receipt of a qualifying payment to apply for Fuel Allowance. Existing household composition rules continue to apply.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed to direct the limited resources available to my Department in a targeted manner. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including a means test and the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own. Fuel Allowance can only be awarded where all the qualifying conditions are met and cannot be awarded on a discretionary basis to those who are marginally above the applicable means limit.
The person concerned has income from private pensions which puts his weekly income above the €500.00 per week means threshold and, accordingly, he does not qualify for Fuel Allowance. The person was notified in writing that he does not satisfy the means assessment and a full breakdown of the means assessment has issued to the person concerned.
My Department provides Additional Needs Payments, as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, for people who have essential expenses which they cannot pay from their weekly income. Applications and enquiries in relation to these payments can be made by contacting a Community Welfare Officer based in the local Intreo Centre.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
