Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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268. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on an application for fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) recently widowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5863/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An application for Fuel Allowance was received from the person concerned on 08 September 2022.

The key role of the Department of Social Protection is to provide income support where an income need arises because of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, caring or unemployment. The Department also recognises the need for a transition period during which people can grieve and plan for a life following the death of a family member. 

Within the social welfare system, there are a number of supports for people who suffer a bereavement.  In particular, there is an arrangement known as the six-weeks payment after death which allows for certain payments to continue to be made after a person dies. Where a person in receipt of a social welfare payment dies and there is an Increase for a Qualified Adult in payment, this payment continues for six weeks.  In the case of the person concerned, the six weeks payment also included a lump sum payment of the Fuel allowance covering payment to the end of the current Fuel season.

The application for Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 13 January 2023 with payment commencing at the start of the next Fuel Season. The telephone support allowance was awarded at the weekly rate of €2.50 from 13 January 2023. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the fuel allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5936/23]

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 to assist households with their energy costs. 

Under the current qualifying conditions for fuel allowance a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria.  Fuel allowance is not payable if an applicant lives with any person, including a family member, that is not covered by the household composition criteria outlined below.

- a person aged 70 years or over,

- a dependent adult or dependent child,

- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment but is not receiving Fuel Allowance,

- a person who is in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit and is caring for the fuel allowance applicant or dependent adult or dependent child, or

- a person receiving short-term jobseeker's allowance (JA) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA)

As the person concerned is residing with a person who does not meet the criteria outlined above, they are not entitled to the allowance. If their household circumstances change in the future, it is open to them to re-apply for the Fuel allowance.

If the person concerned has significant outgoings and exceptional heating needs due to ill health or infirmity, they can apply for a heating supplement, a support paid under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.  Each claim is assessed taking into account the individual circumstances of the case.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.