Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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342. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if individuals who qualify for the living alone allowance can be considered for the fuel allowance if they are over the qualifying limit by the amount received in their living alone allowance; if exceptions can be made in these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60220/22]

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. Only one allowance is paid per household.

In the case of applicants in receipt of the Living Alone Increase (LAI), the Fuel Allowance guidelines indicate that an extra allowance equivalent to the LAI rate may be applied to the allowable means for Fuel Allowance purposes. This ensures that the LAI does not affect a person's entitlement to Fuel Allowance.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.