Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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561. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the fuel allowance claim by a person (details supplied) has been disallowed. [10057/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance Scheme is designed to assist pensioners and other welfare-dependent householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their winter heating needs. The fuel allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses and is not intended to meet them in full. It is means-assessed and is paid only to customers who meet all the qualifying conditions.

The main eligibility conditions for receipt of fuel allowance are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, live alone or with other qualifying persons, and satisfy a means test. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory) and Increase for qualified adult. Currently, the applicant and their spouse can have a combined weekly household income of €120 above the maximum rates for State pension (contributory) and Increase for qualified adult and still be eligible for fuel allowance.

An application for fuel allowance from the person concerned was received on 27 October 2021. According to the records of my Department, the person’s spouse is not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in their own right, nor are they a qualified adult on the State pension (contributory) of the person concerned.

Consequently, the person was notified on 5 January 2022 that they do not qualify for fuel allowance as their household includes people who are not eligible for the purposes of fuel allowance. If these circumstances change, it is open to them to reapply for fuel allowance.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.