Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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404. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial assistance that can be given to a person (details supplied). [58852/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is in receipt of State pension (contributory) since 8 January 2016. According to the records of my Department, they indicated on their pension application that they did not wish to apply for fuel allowance and have not applied for this payment since then.

Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs. 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. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory). The applicant and their spouse can have a combined weekly household income of €120.00 above the maximum rates for State pension (contributory) and Increase for qualified adult and still be eligible for a fuel allowance.

A fuel allowance application form has been sent to the person concerned. Upon receipt of a completed application form, their eligibility for the fuel allowance scheme can be determined and they will be notified of the outcome.

An application form for the Household Benefits Package has also been sent to the person concerned. The Household Benefits Package is a set of allowances aimed at assisting qualifying recipients with their household running costs. It includes an allowance towards their electricity or gas costs, as well as the cost of their television licence.

Under my Department’s Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances. Exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet from their own resources. The person concerned can contact their local Intreo office about applying for Community Welfare Services.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.