Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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396. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has an entitlement to any cost-of-living payments announced in budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61776/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments, or equivalent from an EU/country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Agreement, towards the cost of their winter heating needs.

The person concerned applied for Fuel Allowance on 18 October 2022. I am pleased to inform the Deputy the person concerned was awarded Fuel allowance with effect from 21 October 2022. The person concerned has been notified in writing of this decision.

As part of the overall social welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 billion, I announced an additional cost of living payment of €400 for qualified Fuel Allowance recipients. This additional cost-of-living payment was payable to Fuel Allowance recipients for week commencing 14 November 2022. As the person concerned will receive arrears of Fuel Allowance from 21 October 2022, the additional cost-of-living payment of €400 will be included in their arrears.

The customer concerned is also in receipt of Free Travel and the Household Benefits Package, comprising a Free Television Licence and an Electricity Allowance valued at approximately €35.00 per month.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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397. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that those on illness benefit for less than 12 months were not included in the category of persons who get an additional week's benefit for Christmas. [61777/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in social welfare measures this year to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

Traditionally, Illness Benefit was not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus as Illness Benefit is a scheme which, by its nature, is a short-term social welfare scheme. It has a high degree of churn with people coming onto the scheme and moving off every week, often with very short duration claims. The average duration of a claim for Illness Benefit is only 6 days.

However, I appreciate that individual circumstances can vary from case to case so I asked my officials to examine this issue in respect of people who are in receipt of Illness Benefit for longer periods of time and I am pleased to confirm that, for the first time, people who have been on Illness Benefit for 12 months or longer will qualify for this year's Christmas Bonus.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.