Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

242. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of households in each county that are receiving the €300 fuel allowance lump sum payment this week, in tabular form. [51805/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Fuel Allowance scheme 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. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two instalment payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

Some 409,000 households are receiving the Fuel Allowance, and these households will get an additional €300 payment this week.

This suite of lump sum payments means that people will have extra money in their pockets, which will ease the pressure and stress that many households are facing.

The latest Fuel Allowance figures available are to the end of October 2023. The records in the table below indicate the number of recipients of fuel allowance per county at the end of October 2023 that are receiving the €300 payment this week:

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

243. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of households in each county that are receiving the €400 disability support grant this week, in tabular form. [51806/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This week, my Department will issue a once-off Cost of Living Lump Sum payment of €400 to recipients of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and the Blind Pension.

Based on current recipient numbers, this means that the payment will be made to 219,461 people.

This figure is an estimate and may change as new applications are received and claims are closed.

The breakdown by county of this estimated number of recipients of the once-off payment is shown in Table 1 below.

Estimated recipients of the Cost of Living Lump Sum payment for people in receipt of a disability payment, by county

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

244. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of households in each county that are receiving the €400 lump sum working family payment this week, in tabular form. [51807/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income support for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.

Budget 2024 included the provision of a once off €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all WFP recipients and is due to be paid on 23rd November 2023.

The following is a breakdown of Working Family Payment Recipients by County as at 20^thNovember 2023:

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.