Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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503. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a married couple now qualify for fuel allowance given the recent changes as a result of budget 2023, whose incomes have not changed but they narrowly missed out on qualifying in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51221/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.

One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). An individual can have a weekly income of €120.00 above the maximum rate for State pension (contributory) plus any increases for age, living alone and dependants and still be eligible for the fuel allowance.

On 25 January 2022, the person concerned applied for fuel allowance. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €626.01 which exceeds the permissible weekly means of €600.30 for the household.  The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing on 11 February 2022.

From January 2023, there will be a new means threshold for people aged 70 and over, of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. In addition, these applicants no longer have to be in receipt of a qualifying payment to access Fuel Allowance, provided they satisfy the means test and the household composition rules.

Details in relation to the application process for those aged 70 and over, including how and when to apply, will be advertised by my Department towards the end of this year.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.