Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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511. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review an application by a person (details supplied) with a view to granting this application. [51959/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.

Eligibility for fuel allowance is subject to a household means test and other qualifying conditions, such as household composition. With regard to means, a person may have a combined household income of up to €100.00 per week over and above the maximum rate of state pension (contributory).

For every means limit set, there will be applicants who exceed the permissible income limit, marginally or otherwise, and fail to qualify. In addition to their state pension (contributory), the person concerned is in receipt of a private pension which brings them over the permissible weekly income limit. On that basis, their application for fuel allowance was disallowed. There is no scope for discretion to be applied where a claimant does not satisfy the conditions for the payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.