McAdam encourages older people across the North Inner City to apply for the Fuel Allowance this autumn

Ray McAdam, Fine Gael Councillor and Leader of the Fine Gael Group on Dublin City Council has encouraged older people across the North Inner City to apply for the Fuel Allowance this autumn, as the new fuel allowance season gets underway in advance of the winter.

“The Fuel Allowance scheme is designed to assist pensioners and other very low income households to meet the cost of their heating needs during the winter season.

“I encourage older people and people in receipt of social welfare across the North Inner City to apply for the allowance. They can fill in the form in their local Post Office, or find it online at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Fuel-Allowance.aspx

“The Fuel Allowance is means tested and is paid to the customer with their social welfare payment at a rate of €22.50 per week.

“People on an employment scheme or in receipt of a Back to Education Allowance would also be entitled to the Fuel Allowance if they continue to satisfy the conditions – including the means test.

“In order to qualify for the Fuel Allowance the claimant:

• Must be resident in the State,
• Must be in receipt of certain qualifying payments
• Must live alone or only with:
  • a qualified spouse/ civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren);
  • a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right;
  • a person who is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit in respect of providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren);
  • a person receiving short term Jobseeker’s Allowance or the Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (less than 391 days).

“As the Fine Gael representative for North Inner City I am working hard to ensure that people who need it most, can benefit from the recovery in our economy. All those who qualify for the Fuel Allowance should apply for it now. Fairness will be the focus of the upcoming Budget and we will continue to reducing high levels of taxation on modest incomes and phase out the USC. Our top priority is to protect the economy and create more jobs, which in turn will fund better public services for hard pressed families.”