Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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433. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57497/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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434. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57498/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

Living alone allowance is payable from age 66, with widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension. As the person concerned is under age 66, she does not qualify for this allowance. However, the person concerned was previously in receipt of living alone allowance with disability allowance, in which case it is payable under age 66. She may wish to re-apply for disability allowance, to ascertain if she is financially better off on that payment.

The person concerned is in receipt of fuel allowance since 2020. This year she applied to have the allowance paid in two lump sums. The first lump sum of €462 was paid with her pension on 30/09/2022. The second lump sum will be paid in January 2023. On foot of the cost-of-living measures announced in the budget, the person concerned will receive an extra fuel allowance payment of €400 on Friday 18/11/2022.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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435. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57499/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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436. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57500/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together.

The person concerned has been in receipt of living alone allowance since 25/03/2011. Their weekly pension payment is €275.30. This is comprised of the maximum personal rate of €253.30, plus €22 living alone allowance. As a result of the cost-of-living measures announced in the budget, the person concerned will receive a living alone allowance lump sum of €200 on 18/11/2022.

The person concerned applied for fuel allowance in 2020. Their application was disallowed as their weekly means were assessed as €523.30. This exceeds the current limit of €373.30. However, from January 2023, the weekly means limit will increase to €500 for those aged over 70. If the person concerned continues to have weekly means in excess of €500, she would not be entitled to fuel allowance now or in January. If her weekly means have changed, it is open to her to re-apply to have her entitlement re-examined.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.