John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person receiving a carer's allowance is not entitled to keep their own fuel allowance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30016/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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A Fuel Allowance is a payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating a person’s home during the winter months. It is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. The 2016/17 Fuel season commenced on 3 October 2016.

Only one Fuel Allowance is paid to a household.

Fuel Allowance is not payable with Carer’s Allowance (CA) alone. However, if the carer is getting half-rate CA along with another long-term social welfare payment, they may have an entitlement to the allowance.

The person concerned should apply to the office that administers their long-term social welfare payment.

If the person being cared for is in receipt of a long-term social welfare payment such as disability allowance, invalidity pension or a state pension, they may qualify for Fuel Allowance in their own right.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.