Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
806. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any discretion in the assessment of the fuel allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12489/23]
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, in addition to the state pensions received by the couple, exceeds the weekly means threshold of €1,000. The person was notified in writing that they do not qualify for Fuel Allowance and a breakdown of the means assessment has issued to them.
My Department provides Additional Needs Payments, as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, for people who have essential expenses which they cannot meet from their own resources. Enquiries and applications in relation to these payments can be made by contacting the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
