Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that are now outstanding on the over-70s fuel allowance applications received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15190/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs and is paid over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

While we had made some improvements to the scheme in previous Budgets, it was a key priority of mine, and of the Government, to expand the reach of the Fuel Allowance payment this year. In Budget 2023, a more generous means test was introduced for those aged over 70, with a higher means threshold of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. Applicants aged over 70 no longer need to be receiving a qualifying social protection payment and the threshold for the capital disregard increased from €20,000 to €50,000. For those aged under 70, the means threshold was increased by 80 euro and is now 200 euro above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory for the household.

In the state pensions area, where the budget measures were of greatest benefit to those aged 70 and over, some 45,700 applications for Fuel Allowance were received in 2022. This represents a 144% increase over the number received in 2021.

32,500 additional households have been awarded Fuel Allowance since the Budget. Of these, over 24,000 are aged 70 or over.

As at the week ending 19 March 2023, I am pleased to say that there were less than 1,300 claims from those aged over 70 awaiting decision and only 300 under age 70 waiting to be processed. These remaining claims will be processed in the coming weeks. Where an application for fuel allowance is awarded, it will be backdated as appropriate and there will be no loss in payment to the qualified households concerned.

As the 2022/23 fuel allowance season is still open to applications, I would encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to make an application as soon as they can. They can do this online at MyWelfare.ie or they can get an application form at any Intreo Centre or Branch Office of my Department, or at any Citizen Information Centre or post office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.