A WEEKLY €33 social welfare boost that has been paid out to over 409,000 households for the last seven months will end tomorrow.
The cash boost, which started in September, is a payment designed to help people with the cost of heating their home in the winter months.
People can opt to receive the payment at a rate of €33 weekly or in two lump sums of €462 each, which are handed out in September and January of every year.
The Fuel Allowance season started on September 23 last year but it has been confirmed that the cash boost will end on April 4.
Thousands more people qualified for the scheme this year after the government reduced the eligibility age by four years in the budget.
However, Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary yesterday confirmed that any further decision to amend the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance will only be considered in a “wider budgetary context”.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Calleary explained: “The criteria for Fuel Allowance are in place to direct the limited resources available to my department in as targeted a manner as possible.
“This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty.
“While my Department’s schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, any further decision to amend the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance, including making it identical to that of Medical Cards can only be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context.”
Calleary said the Government is “committed to protecting vulnerable households” from the impact of energy costs through a “combination of supports”.
The Fuel Allowance payment was extended to those aged 66 and over as part of Budget 2025 negotiations.
The means test disregard was previously for over 70s but people aged under 66 will now have to meet certain eligibility requirements for the payment.
This includes living alone or living with specific people or getting a qualifying means payment.
People on the Carer’s Allowance were also deemed eligible for the Fuel Allowance boost, providing they meet the criteria.
WHO QUALIFIES?
TO get Fuel Allowance you must live alone – or with certain people, satisfy a means test and be getting a qualifying payment – unless you are aged over 66.
You must also live in Ireland and you cannot get Fuel Allowance if your heating costs are provided in full as part of your accommodation.
You must either live on your own or with a spouse, dependent children, someone receiving Carers Benefit or Carers Allowance or someone receiving short term Jobseeker’s Allowance or Supplementary Welfare allowance.
If you are under 66, there are a number of payments that qualify you for the Fuel Allowance boost.
Qualifying social insurance payments
- Contributory State Pension
- Contributory Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension
- Incapacity Supplement under Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme
- Invalidity Pension
- Contributory Guardian’s Payment
- Death Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme
- A pension or benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement
Qualifying social assistance payments
- Non-Contributory State Pension
- Non-Contributory Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Blind Pension
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit or Deserted Wife’s Allowance
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Non-Contributory Guardian’s Payment
- Farm Assist
- Jobseeker’s Transitional payment
A single person over 70 can have means of €512 per week and receive the payment, while a couple can have means of €1,024 per week.
The amount of savings disregarded in the over 70s means test has been increased from €20,000 to €50,000.
EXTRA BOOST
Fuel Allowance recipients, who are getting the Living Alone Increase, will also get a Telephone Support Allowance of €2.50 weekly.
It can help people living alone with the cost of communications or a home alert system.
This is paid automatically with your main social welfare payment, so you do not have to apply for it.
CHECK ELIGIBILITY & SHOULD YOU APPLY?
If you apply for Fuel Allowance after the start of the Fuel Allowance season, it will not be backdated.
However, you do not need to reapply for Fuel Allowance each year as long as, your circumstances remain the same and you continue to get the same social welfare payment.
You can apply for the Fuel Allowance online or get an application form at your local Post Office.
Announcing the launch of the fuel season in September, Minister Humphreys urged the public to check their eligibility for payment.
“I was delighted in Budget 2023 to broaden the eligibility of the scheme so that even more older people can qualify for the payment.
“I also introduced a new over 70s means test for Fuel Allowance.
“Under this, a single person can have means of €512 per week and a couple can have means of €1,024 per week and still qualify for Fuel Allowance.
“We have also increased the weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 by €80 per week.
“These changes represent the largest ever expansion of the Scheme and I would encourage people to check their eligibility for the payment.”
