Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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469. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for the fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed. [47939/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April, to some 376,000 low income households to assist them 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.

In order to be eligible for fuel allowance, a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a household means test and live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Under the means test, an applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €100.00 a week above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory, currently €238.30, and qualify for fuel allowance.

On 28th September 2017, it was decided that the person concerned did not qualify for fuel allowance as the means of the person concerned exceeded the permissible limit of €338.30 per week. The applicable means limit is based on the combined household assessable income. The method used to assess the value of capital held is irrespective of the household composition.

If the financial circumstances of the person concerned change, it is open to them to re-apply for this means tested payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.