Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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706. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an elderly couple (details supplied) will qualify for the fuel allowance payment following the changes in budget 2023; if so, the way that they can apply for the fuel allowance payment; when the first payment under the new income thresholds is expected to be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55226/22]

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 7 October 2022. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €687.68 which exceeded the permissible weekly means of €610.30 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.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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707. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing the allowances available under the household benefits package to assist those who cannot qualify for fuel allowance due to the cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55270/22]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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729. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that the fuel portion of the household benefits package has not increased at all in budget 2023, to ensure that recipients of same would not be at risk of fuel poverty this winter. [55545/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 707 and 729 together.

The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 500,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.

There has been no recent increase to the gas/electricity element of the HHB package as the limited resources available to the Department have instead been targeted at increases to core Social Welfare payments and also to more targeted payments such as the Fuel Allowance payment.

Any decision to enhance the HHB package would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and in Budget 2023 have provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.

As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, an Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to Social Protection recipients in October.

In November, a €200 Lump Sum Payment will be paid to pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance, a €500 Cost of Living Payment will be paid to people receiving Carer’s Support Grant and a €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant will be paid to people in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension.

In December, a Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including pensioners, carers & people with disabilities.

From January 2023, the maximum rate of core Social Welfare rates will be increased. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate. The weekly full rate for a qualified child will increase to €42 for children under 12 years of age and to €50 for children aged 12 years and over

The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. This will also benefit all households. The first €200 will be applied to electricity bills in November.

The Government will continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation closely.

I would also like to highlight that the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.