John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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820. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person in receipt of the livin- alone allowance on the State pension can relinquish this payment in order to avail of the fuel allowance and any other associated funding where being in receipt of the fuel allowance is necessary in order to successfully apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12848/23]

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 €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

While it is open to any customer to inform my Department that they no longer wish to receive the Living Alone Increase, it will not change the outcome of the customer's Fuel Allowance application.

In the case of applicants in receipt of the Living Alone Increase (LAI), the Fuel Allowance guidelines indicate that the rate of LAI received is disregarded when assessing 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.