Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

466. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed given the person in question was found to be only marginally over the income limit. [54207/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. For State pension (contributory) recipients the fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). Currently, the applicant and their spouse can have a combined weekly household income of €100.00 above the maximum rates for State pension (contributory) and increase for qualified adult and still be eligible for a fuel allowance.

On the fuel allowance application received by my Department on 26 October 2021, the person concerned provided details of jointly-held capital and an occupational pension. The fuel allowance means assessment is based on assessed weekly means from jointly-held capital, an occupational pension and the couple’s State pension entitlements. Total means assessed exceed the current permissible weekly means of €570.80 for fuel allowance eligibility for a couple where both are aged over 66.

Following Budget 2022, the weekly means threshold for fuel allowance is due to increase by €20 to €120 from January 2022. The couple’s current means are also in excess of the extended means limit.

Weekly means from capital are calculated using the following formula: the first €20,000 are disregarded. The next €10,000 are assessed at €1 per €1,000. The next €10,000 are assessed at €2 per €1,000. The remainder (anything in excess of €40,000) is assessed at €4 per €1,000. This formula and fuel allowance guidelines are published on www.gov.ie.

The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 3 November 2021. They were advised that if their circumstances change it is open to them to submit a new application for fuel allowance.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.