Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is acceptable that a person (details supplied), who depends on full-time support has lost a living alone allowance and a fuel allowance and that this person and a sibling should be financially penalised for saving the State a considerable amount by ensuring that the person is cared for at home. [1596/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

According to the Department’s records the person concerned is now living with his brother and is no longer entitled to a Living Alone Allowance.

If a person in receipt of a qualifying payment is living alone or only with another person who is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit and caring for the person getting the qualifying payment, (in this instance State pension non-contributory) then the Fuel Allowance may be payable. In this particular case, this customer’s brother is currently not in receipt of either payment.

Our records show that the customer’s brother applied for Carer’s Allowance in 2006 but the application was refused because his means then exceeded the eligibility threshold. If this person’s circumstances have changed a new application for Carer’s Allowance should be made. If Carer’s Allowance is awarded to the customer’s brother then an application for reinstatement of the Fuel Allowance can then be considered.

I understand that an application form for Carer’s Allowance was sent to the household last week.