Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2023
109. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection regarding the case of a person (details supplied), who has been on jobseekers allowance for five years was moved to illness benefit following surgery and is now deemed ineligible for the fuel allowance despite being on interrupted social protection payments for five years, if discretion can be used in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51517/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks from September to April. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. One allowance is paid per household.
Qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance are those payments that are considered long term payments and an applicant must also satisfy a means test.
The person concerned is in receipt of Illness Benefit. Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment due to illness and, accordingly, is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost, which customers are unable to meet out of their resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such cases are made on a case by case basis.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
