Written answers

Thursday, 21 September 2017

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Photo of John BrassilJohn Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review and rectify the anomaly whereby persons in receipt of one parent family payment who are in employment when their child reaches seven, that then receive family back to work dividends, are not eligible for fuel allowance in view of the fact the family dividend payment is not one of the qualifying social welfare payments for receipt of fuel allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39969/17]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to low income households, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to approximately 429,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €232 million in 2017.

The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Back to work family dividend (BTWFD) is not a means-tested payment and therefore is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. BTWFD gives financial support to people with qualified children who are in or take up employment or self-employment and stop claiming any primary social welfare payment. Family Income Supplement (FIS) can be paid with BTWFD and the amount received from the BTWFD is not taken into account in the means test for FIS.

Persons in receipt of one parent family payment that are in employment when their child reaches the age of seven can apply for jobseekers transition payment (JST). This is a means tested scheme that aims to support lone parents into the work force while they have young children. Fuel Allowance is payable with JST.

There are no plans to extend the eligibility criteria for fuel allowance to include BTWFD as a qualifying payment. Any decision to do so would have to be considered in the overall budgetary negotiations.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a recipient of a social welfare or health service executive payment who has exceptional essential heating costs due to ill health or infirmity and who cannot provide for such costs from within his or her own resources may qualify for a heating supplement. There is no standard rate for a heating supplement. Each case is examined on its merits and the Community Welfare Officer determines the amount to be paid taking account of the level of the expenses in question and the ability of the applicant to contribute towards his or her exceptional heating costs.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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