Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:136. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of successful applicants for fuel allowance in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32983/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 6 July 2023
Ceisteanna (136)
Freagraí scríofa
The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards winter heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments (payable in September and January). Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually. The Department generally collates data on an annual basis. In September 2022, at the start of the 2022/23 Fuel Allowance season, there were approximately 369,000 households in receipt of Fuel Allowance. By the end of the 2022/23 Fuel Allowance season, in April 2023, the number of households supported increased to over 404,000. The increase in Fuel Allowance recipients was due to the measures implemented as a result of Budget 2023, announcing the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme.The changes introduced, from January 2023, were:- the introduction of a new means threshold for people aged 70 years and over, of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple;- for applicants aged 70 or over, the amount of capital (savings and investments) disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. (Savings over €50,000 are assessed on a proportionate basis only);- the weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 was increased by €80 and is now €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory; and,- Disablement Benefit and Half-rate Carer’s Allowance payments were disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. Disablement Benefit also no longer debars a household from receiving the Fuel Allowance payment.The number of successful applications processed between January 2023 and the end of April 2023, amounts to just over 30,000. This number does not represent all successful applicants for 2023, as further new applications will qualify on the reopening of the new 2023/24 Fuel Allowance season, from September 2023 onwards. It should be remembered that the number of qualified households continuously fluctuates, as recipients join and exit the scheme as their circumstances change.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 137 answered with Question No. 134.