Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
405. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a fuel allowance will be awarded to persons (details supplied) once a means test is satisfied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9805/23]
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, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. 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.
To satisfy the household composition requirement, an applicant aged under 70 must live alone or only with:
- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the Qualified Adult is in receipt of half rate Carer’s Allowance, in addition to the IQA payment, they may qualify for Fuel Allowance, subject to a means test)
OR
- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right
OR
- a person who is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit in respect of providing full-time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren).
OR
- a person receiving short-term Jobseeker's Allowance or Basic SWA (less than 312 days for JA and less than 12 months/364 days for SWA).
The Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds is a short-term payment for people aged 65 who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. It is not a means tested payment. Therefore, Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.
Any decision to include the Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
