Seán Sherlock
Ceist:370. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of fuel allowance for 2023; and if she intends to expand the qualifying criteria. [32064/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 October 2023
Ceisteanna (370)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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.
By the end of the 2022/23 Fuel Allowance season, the total number of households supported had increased to over 404,000.
In Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme by introducing a new means threshold for people aged 70 years and over to ensure that older people could be supported in remaining warm in their homes. The new means threshold is €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple.
In addition, for people aged 70 or over, the amount of capital (savings and investments) that is disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000.
The weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 was increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).
Also from January 2023, Disablement Benefit and Half-rate Carer's Allowance payment are disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
The Government has, therefore, implemented significant expansions in relation to Fuel Allowance through Budget 2023.
All options, will be kept under review, together with trends in prices, to inform preparations for the budget later this year. We will, however, have to take account, as always, of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.