Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West, Aindrias Moynihan has welcomed a change in fuel allowance criteria which will allow people over 70, who may not be in receipt of social welfare payment, to be now eligible for consideration.
Deputy Moynihan, who questioned the Minister for Social Protection on the issue in Dáil Eireann, commented, “I’m pleased to see this change in eligibility criteria. This has been an issue I have brought up in the Dáil before and to the attention of the Minister for Social Protection. I have been informed by the Minister that those aged over 70 will no longer be required to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment to be eligible, but will still have to satisfy all other relevant qualifying criteria.”
The Cork North West TD added: “The new income criteria is €500 weekly threshold means tested for a single person over 70, and €1,000 weekly threshold means tested for a couple.
“From January 2023, this new means threshold will be introduced for people aged 70 years and over. This measure seeks to ensure that older people not currently in receipt of Fuel Allowance but who are marginally outside the thresholds will now be covered by the scheme. This reform is being introduced because older people can often be more vulnerable to the effects of energy poverty.”
ENDS