Amendment to the Emergency Fuel Payment (also known as the Pension Age Fuel Support Payment) scheme policy - screening
Date published:
The Pension Age Fuel Support Payment scheme (which provides for a one-off payment to mitigate against the impact of the recent Winter Fuel Payment changes) was introduced to only apply to people living in Northern Ireland and those people habitually resident in countries covered by the Withdrawal Agreement; EEA EFTA separation agreement; Swiss citizens’ rights agreement or the Convention on Social Security between the UK and Ireland and who are able to demonstrate a genuine and sufficient link to Northern Ireland and not receiving the Winter Fuel Payment.
The regulations to bring forward the scheme, as original drafted, did not explicitly prevent double payment for eligible pensioners in Europe, i.e. the regulations do not state that eligible pensioners living in Europe can either receive a Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Fuel Support Payment, not both.
Therefore, an amendment to the legislation must be made via an amending set of regulations to ensure the scheme delivers the policy intent.
Existing/Revised/New: Revised
Date of Screening: 7/03/2025
Screening Outcome - Full EQIA recommended: No