Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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392. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in determination of application for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61707/22]

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 fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). An individual can currently have a weekly income of €120.00 above the maximum rate for State pension (contributory) plus any increases for age, living alone and dependents and still be eligible for the fuel allowance. In this case the permissible means, based on the household, is €383.30.

Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means exceeded the permissible weekly means of €383.30. The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing.

As the Deputy is aware, I announced a new means threshold of €500 for a single person. As the household means will exceed the increased threshold, the person concerned will not qualify for fuel allowance from January 2023.

It is open to the person concerned to submit a new application if there are any changes in their circumstances.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Additional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.