Heating supplement must be offered to those who need it now
Heating supplement must be offered to those who need it now - The Labour Party
Labour Party TD and spokesperson on social protection Mark Wall has today called on Government to actively advertise the Heat Supplement payment through the community welfare service.
Deputy Wall said:
“This is a relatively unknown scheme to many, and is available to those who have extra heating needs because of age, medical condition, or disability.
“People, particularly those with disabilities, are having to make tough choices. Choices like whether they can turn the heating on or afford the weekly shop. In a rich country like Ireland, people should not have to make these choices.
“The Minister for Social Protection has said that 231,000 people are on disability income support payments and 170,000 are on caring payments. Yet, according to the Minister today, only 692 people are availing of the Heat Supplement. From the people coming into my office alone, I know that the number of older people and disabled people who are struggling with their heating bills is far greater than what the Minister has said.
“I am calling on the Minister for Social Protection to immediately and actively offer the Heat Supplement to those on disability and caring income support payments, while an active advertising campaign of the supplement takes place to the general public. The application process for this payment must be simplified to allow those in need the chance to improve their quality of life. Too many people living with a disability are making life choices to turn off or down their heating which is having a serious knock on effect on their health.
“The Minister must also include older people with a disability who have qualified for the state pension in any new disability payment. Their disability does not stop simply when they become 66, their needs are only increasing and they need state help.”