Written answers
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Pension Provisions
Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if any pensioners lost out between the time of pension increases in January 2024 and the raising of the fuel allowance means threshold some eight weeks later; and if all pensioners were compensated for the loss incurred to them if there was a discrepancy during that time. [11037/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 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; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season - from September to April - at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two instalments - one in September and one in January. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
With effect from 5 January 2024, the Fuel Allowance means thresholds were increased in line with the social welfare payment increases announced in Budget 2024.
The Department IT systems were updated with the increased means thresholds on 1 December 2023 to ensure Fuel Allowance applicants would not lose out on their entitlement due to the budget increases.
The Department is not aware of any pensioner who has lost out on their entitlement to Fuel Allowance, as the means thresholds were updated prior to the pension increases in January 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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