Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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541. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time in advance of 1 January 2023 that applications for fuel allowance under the increased income threshold can be submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52014/22]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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543. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the arrangements, if any, that she is making to assist with the expeditious processing of additional fuel allowance applications as a result of the extended income threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52016/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 543 together.

As part of the overall social welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 Billion, I am pleased to have secured a major expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme, which will benefit up to 81,000 households.

From January 2023, the allowable means threshold for those aged under 70 will increase by €80 from €120 to €200 per week above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory). Disablement Benefit will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance and will no longer result in a household being disqualified because a person in the household is in receipt of that payment. In addition, half-rate Carer’s Allowance payments will also be disregarded for the Fuel Allowance means assessment.

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.

Many of these households will also benefit from the additional cost of living payments which will be paid between now and the end of the year. The enhanced electricity credit of €600, with a value of €1.3 billion, is a further Government measure that will benefit all Irish households. The first €200 is to be applied to electricity bills before Christmas.

Officials at my Department are working on the operational requirements for the implementation of these budget measures. The current priority is to make the necessary IT system changes to deliver the additional payments between now and the end of the year to include: the double-week in social welfare payments in October and December; the Fuel Allowance payment of €400 for qualified recipients in the week commencing 14 November; the living alone payment of €200; and the €500 payment for people with disabilities, for those in receipt of Working Family Payment, and for carers in November 2022.

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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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542. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cut-off date for applications to have fuel allowance paid as a lump sum for the winter season 2022/2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52015/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist qualifying households towards the cost of their heating needs. It is not intended to meet those costs in full.

The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments. For the 2022/23 season, the first lump sum (€462.00) was paid during the week beginning 26th of September 2022, with the second payment (€462.00) due the first week in January.

Existing recipients may opt to be paid by way of lump sum by completing the change the payment frequency of Fuel Allowance (FA CPF1) application form, to be included in the January 2023 lump sum payment.For applications awarded after the January lump sum payment date, any arrears due will be paid by way of a lump sum with weekly payments made for the remainder of this fuel season.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.