Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for household benefits and fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54116/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package is a set of allowances which help with the costs of running a household. It includes allowances towards electricity or gas costs as well as a television licence.

An application form for the Household Benefits Package has issued to the person concerned. Alternatively, the person concerned can apply online for their Household Benefits Package on www.mywelfare.ie if they have a Public Services Card (PSC) and a verified MyGovID account. On receipt of a completed application, the person's entitlement will be examined and they will be notified, in writing, of the outcome.

Fuel Allowance applications are processed by the scheme or office which administers an applicant's primary payment. In the case of the person concerned, the Community Welfare Service administers their primary payment and has issued an application form for completion. On return, the person's entitlement to Fuel Allowance will be examined and they will be notified of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for fuel allowance or other benefit which he previously had during the pandemic while he is on a community employment scheme given that he is asthmatic and diabetic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54119/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The purpose of the Fuel Allowance payment is to assist households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.

If a participant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they continue to receive the Fuel Allowance payment while participating on the scheme, once they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions.

If the CE participant was not in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to starting on CE they may still apply and potentially qualify for a Fuel Allowance.

From 1st September 2022, the period a person must be in receipt of Jobseeker's allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) to access the Fuel Allowance scheme has been reduced to 12 months. This will benefit people on CE who previously have been in receipt of the above payments for greater than 312 days but who did not meet the 390-day requirement.

The person concerned made an application for a Fuel Allowance but was deemed not eligible for the allowance on the basis that they were not in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment prior to commencement on CE. The person may wish to contact the Department of Social Protection Office, Maynooth, Co Kildare to establish the position as regards other payments referenced by the Deputy in his question.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.