Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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545. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the new income guidelines for fuel allowance coming into effect on 23 January 2023 will apply to a couple (details supplied) where one person is over 70 years and is in receipt of a State pension (contributory) but their spouse, while in receipt of a qualifying payment of carer’s allowance, is under 70 years. [52048/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.

In Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme. As part of this, from January 2023, a new means test will be introduced for over 70s. Under the new means test, a single person over 70 will be able to have income of €500 per week and a couple will be able to have income of €1,000 per week and still qualify for Fuel Allowance

The new means test limit of €1,000 will be applicable to a couple once one of them is aged 70 or over.

While Carer's Allowance is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, those aged over 70 will no longer be required to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment but will still have to satisfy all other relevant qualifying criteria.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.