Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
88. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will review the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance scheme in circumstances where many older persons living on modest fixed incomes marginally exceed the current means thresholds but remain at risk of fuel poverty, particularly persons aged over 80 and 90 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41554/26]
View answerThe criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all relevant qualifying criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
Any change in the qualifying criteria for older persons or the increasing of allowable means for those aged over 80 would have to be considered in the context of scheme policy and budgetary negotiations.
The allowable means for Fuel Allowance has been significantly increased in recent years and this increase has coincided with an expansion of allowable income, including the Rent-a Room Scheme which is now disregarded for Fuel Allowance purposes. The amount of capital that is disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000 and savings over €50,000 are assessed on a proportionate basis only.
If compared to income from employment, the allowable means of €1,068 for a couple aged over 66 is higher than €1,011.88, which is the estimated average weekly earnings for workers in Ireland in quarter 4 of 2025.
Furthermore, the minimum weekly wage in Ireland for a 39-hour week is €551.85, which is only €17.85 higher than the allowable means of €534 for a single person aged over 66.
Persons aged 80 in receipt of a Social Welfare pension do of course automatically get an increase in their pension when they reach 80 years of age. For those on the maximum rate of pension they get a €10 increase in their weekly rate.
Finally, my department provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
