Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 October 2024
133. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in the qualifying payment for fuel allowance not coming into effect until January 2025, thus missing half the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40476/24]
View answerThe 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 €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
As part of Budget 2025, I was delighted to announce a number of measures in relation to the Fuel Allowance payment. These included:
• €300 once-off payment to all households receiving Fuel Allowance in November 2024.
• Carer’s Allowance will become a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance from January 2025, subject to meeting all criteria of the Fuel Allowance scheme, including satisfying the Fuel Allowance means test.
• The enhanced over 70’s Fuel Allowance qualifying conditions will be extended to people aged 66 and over from January 2025
It is estimated these measures combined will bring an additional 9,200 households into the Fuel Allowance Scheme from January. As the eligibility for Fuel Allowance has been enhanced, and will require time to implement, the extended eligibility will take effect in January 2025. My Department is already working on developing the IT systems and operational requirements to give effect to these changes.
Households that qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment will be receiving an extra €924 in a full fuel season to help with the cost of heating their home.
Some of the households to whom access is extended from January may also benefit from cost-of-living measures announced in the Budget such as the double week in social welfare payments in October and December, the living alone payment of €200 in November and the payment of €400 to all carers receiving the Carer’s Support Grant in November.
The electricity credit of €250 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget which will also benefit households that receive Fuel Allowance.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
