Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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656. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason switching from back-to-work enterprise allowance to jobseeker's allowance allows a person (details supplied) to receive the Christmas bonus, although he or she is officially now classified as a new claimant, but not the fuel allowance. [1562/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In 2016, a Christmas bonus payment of 85% of the appropriate weekly amount was paid to all those in receipt of a qualifying payment exceeding 390 days. Any person who was previously on Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and returned directly to Jobseeker's Allowance and the combined period on both schemes exceeded 390 days was entitled to the Christmas bonus. The person concerned is currently in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance for less than 390 days, but, as he had been in receipt of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and returned directly to Jobseeker's Allowance, and the qualifying period on both schemes therefore exceeded 390 days, he qualified for the Christmas bonus in 2016.

To qualify for the Fuel Allowance scheme, a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment for 390 days. The period of time in which the applicant was in receipt of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is not included in the qualifying period for this scheme. The person concerned was not in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance for 390 days and as a consequence does not qualify for the Fuel Allowance scheme as any period of time in receipt of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is not included in the qualifying period for this scheme.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.