Budget: Fuel allowance payments to be expanded and double child benefit at Christmas
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Fuel allowance payments are to be expanded to anyone over the age of 66 in the upcoming budget, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has said.
Ms Humphreys indicated that changes in the upcoming budget would be a mix of both universal and targeted, while also signalling that parents are in for a double child benefit payment this Christmas.
Ms Humphreys said that she did not want to see “old people in their home afraid to turn on the heating”.
“So this year I am looking at maybe reducing that age to those over 66 — when you retire,” Ms Humphreys said.
Currently, the fuel allowance is paid at a weekly rate of €33.
The payment is available to anyone aged over 70, provided their income is not over €512 for a single person or €1024 for a couple.
Ms Humphreys also spoke of how “popular” the double child benefit payment had been last year, while also backing the Green Party’s suggestion for a quadruple child benefit payment for parents when a new child is born.
The €560 one-off payment, mooted by Roderic O’Gorman, is being suggested to help parents deal with increased bills and new equipment required whenever a newborn baby arrives.
“I have discussed it with my officials and I actually think it’s a good idea,” Ms Humphreys said.
“But again, these things all have to be considered in the context of the budget,” she said, adding that more kites would be flown in the run-up to October 1.
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said that the overall budget package needed to be “in line with the sensible approach” taken in recent years while highlighting that there is only €1.8bn available for new spending measures.
Ms Humphreys said that while inflation has reduced in recent months, the cost of everyday items remains high for families.
“I know myself from doing the shopping, it’s quite expensive by the time you get to the table and people are feeling it in their pocket,” Ms Humphreys said.
“So what we want to do is put more money back in people’s pockets and we want to help them.”
The Fine Gael deputy leader reiterated that the overall social protection package would be primarily focused on those with disabilities, carers, older people and working families.