Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1018. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) had their carer's payment reduced from €88.30 to €33.33 following a review. [19891/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant and includes earnings, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country. Means tested payments are subject to periodic means reviews.

Following a recent review of their entitlement the person concerned was assessed with means of €164.05 per week, which is derived from her spouse’s employment income and capital from savings. The rate of payment for the person concerned is €33.30 effective from 14 April 2022. The person concerned was notified of the decision on 30 March 2022, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

As part of Budget 2022, improvements were introduced to the income and capital limits for the CA means assessment, effective from June 2022. These measures, which will take effect from June 2022, include an increase in the income disregard from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple. In addition, the amount of capital disregarded in the means test will be increased from €20,000 to €50,000.

The person concerned will likely be entitled to an increase in their rate of payment, arising from the budget changes, and this will be automatically paid with effect from 2nd June 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1019. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to extend the fuel allowance beyond 8 April 2022 in the event of weather conditions in which there is a need for the payment. [19893/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households 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.

The provision of any additional supports such as extending the Fuel Allowance season would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, energy efficiency awareness initiatives and investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock.

As part of the measures included in the National Energy Security Framework, Government has decided that a further additional lump sum payment of €100 will be paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance in the last week of the Fuel Allowance season – a payment equivalent to over 3 weeks additional Fuel Allowance. This payment will be provided in mid-May, after necessary IT changes have been implemented in my Department to effect the payment.

This means that low-income households will see an increase of 55% in Fuel Allowance support provided during this fuel allowance season compared to last season. A recipient household which would have received €735 in fuel season 2020/2021 would see an increase of €404 to €1,139 in fuel allowance payments in fuel season 2021/2022. When taken in conjunction with the electricity costs emergency benefit payment, due to be paid in April, this household would have received over €600 in additional targeted Government supports over the course of this fuel season. €600 is the equivalent of over 18 weeks' additional Fuel Allowance.

My Department also provides discretionary exceptional needs payments, where appropriate, to people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills. These payments are not ring-fenced or budget limited as they would be if they were drawn from an earmarked fund, but rather are demand led.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.