Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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489. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on increasing the household benefits package to match the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24798/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence and is just one of a range of supports my Department provides to assist people with their fuel costs. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 511,000 customers.

The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in Budget 2023, has provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.

While there has been no recent increase to the gas/electricity element of the HHB package, the Government instead has targeted the limited resources available to it towards increases to core Social Welfare payments and to more targeted payments such as the Fuel Allowance payment.

As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, an Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to Social Protection recipients, including pensioners, in October.

In November, a €200 Lump Sum Payment was paid to pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance, a €500 Cost of Living Payment was paid to people receiving Carer’s Support Grant and a €500 Cost of Living lump sum was paid to people in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension. A €400 additional Lump Sum payment was also paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance Payment. A double month of Child Benefit was paid and a €500 lump sum payment made to people in receipt of Working Family Payment.

In December, a Christmas Bonus Double Payment was paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.

From January 2023,the maximum rate of core Social Welfare rates was increased. There were proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on a reduced rate.

Also, from January 2023, a new Fuel Allowance means threshold was introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new means threshold is €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. Under the formula used to assess means for the Fuel Allowance for over 70s, the threshold for capital that is disregarded in the assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. The weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 was increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory). Similarly, the allowable means for HHB purposes for those aged between 66-69 not in receipt of a qualifying payment was also increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).

The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. This benefitted all households.

Furthermore, I recently announced a further range of measures to support people through this difficult period. This package includes a €200 lump sum payment which was paid to over 1.3 million recipients in receipt of long-term social welfare payments, including pensioners.

Any decision to provide any further measures to help older people by increasing the household benefits package will be considered in the context of overall scheme policy and budgetary considerations.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.