Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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836. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for fuel allowance given the recent changes in the income limits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63218/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to assist qualified households with their winter heating costs. The qualifying conditions for the scheme are available on www.gov.ie.

Applicants under age 70 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment or an equivalent payment from another country, satisfy a means test and live alone or only with other qualifying persons.

The person concerned was disallowed Fuel Allowance in January 2020, as they were not in receipt of a qualified payment. According to the records of my Department, that position remains unchanged. The person concerned is in receipt of an occupational pension.

Under Fuel Allowance scheme changes implemented from January 2023, applicants aged 70 or over no longer need to be in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment to apply for the payment; there is a new weekly means threshold of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple; and capital (monies held) of up to €50,000 is disregarded from the means assessment. The other conditions of the scheme remain the same. On reaching 70 years, the person concerned may qualify for Fuel Allowance and is advised to re-apply, online, at that time.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.