Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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450. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52985/22]

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 person concerned applied for Fuel allowance on 28 September 2022. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €426.48 which exceeded the permissible weekly means of €373.30 for the household. The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing.

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.

The arrangements for applications under the new Fuel Allowance criteria will be announced later in the year.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.