Sylvie Willis
The fuel allowance is a government payment to help people on a lower income with the cost of heating their homes during the winter months. The allowance is typically paid for a period of six to seven months between September and April each year. For the 2024/2025 season, the allowance was €33 per week for 28 weeks, with a total payment of €924. Those eligible can choose to receive the allowance weekly or in two lump-sum payments of €462 each. To be eligible for the fuel allowance, individuals must meet certain criteria, including age and income requirements, with only one person per household receiving the allowance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Help with the cost of heating during the winter months |
| Payment Amount | €33 per week |
| Payment Period | 28 weeks |
| Total Payment | €924 |
| Payment Options | Weekly payments or 2 instalments of €462 each |
| First Instalment | September |
| Second Instalment | January |
| Eligibility | People over 70 who pass a means test, people under 70 receiving qualifying social welfare payment, people getting Carer's Allowance or Benefit, people getting short-term Jobseeker's Allowance or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
| Application Process | Apply online using MyGovID account |
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What You'll Learn
Who qualifies for fuel allowance?
Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. To be eligible for the Fuel Allowance, you must meet certain criteria as laid out by the Department of Social Protection. Here are the details on who qualifies for the Fuel Allowance:
Age 66 and above:
If you are 66 or older, you don't need to receive a qualifying social welfare payment to get Fuel Allowance. However, you must satisfy a means test. The weekly income limit for those aged 66 and above is €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple. Allowed savings are €50,000.
Under age 66:
If you are under 66 years of age, you must be receiving a qualifying social welfare payment and satisfy a means test. Social welfare payments are either based on your PRSI contributions (social insurance payments) or means-tested social assistance payments. Most social assistance payments (non-contributory payments) are generally considered to satisfy the means test for Fuel Allowance, with the exception of Carer's Allowance.
Qualifying social welfare payments:
- State Pension
- Disability Allowance
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Farm Assist
- Jobseeker's Allowance (for more than 312 days)
- Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit (if caring for a dependent spouse, partner, or cohabitant on a full-time basis)
It's important to note that only one Fuel Allowance payment is made per household. If someone in your household is already receiving this payment, you should not apply. Additionally, if you live with someone who can afford to pay your energy bills, you may not be able to claim the Fuel Allowance.
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How much is the fuel allowance?
The fuel allowance is a government payment intended to help people on lower incomes cover the cost of heating their homes during the winter months. The allowance is typically paid for a period of six to seven months between September and April each year. The 2024/2025 fuel allowance season started on 23 September 2024 and will be paid for 28 weeks until 4 April 2025. The current rate of fuel allowance is €33 per week, which means recipients will receive a total of €924 for the 2024/2025 season.
The fuel allowance can be paid weekly or in two instalments. To receive the allowance in two lump sums, you must fill in the FA CPF1 form at least one month before the first lump sum is due. The first lump sum is usually paid in September, and the second in January. The lump-sum option is not available on all schemes, and only one fuel allowance payment per household is permitted.
Eligibility for the fuel allowance is divided into two categories. The first category applies to people over the age of 70 who pass a means test (from 1 January 2025, this will be reduced to 66 years old). The second category applies to people under the age of 70 who are receiving a qualifying social welfare payment. To be eligible for the allowance, your gross weekly income must be below a certain amount to pass the means test. The threshold for the payment is set at different levels depending on whether the applicant is living alone or with another person, as well as the applicant's age.
There are several other criteria that must be met to qualify for the fuel allowance. Firstly, only one person in a household may receive the allowance. Additionally, you cannot get the fuel allowance if your heating costs are provided in full as part of your accommodation. If you are under 66 years of age, you must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment. If someone in your household is 66 or over, they should apply for the allowance.
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How to apply for fuel allowance
The fuel allowance is a means-tested payment under the National Fuel Scheme. It is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. The fuel allowance season usually begins in late September of each year and ends in April. The current rate is €33 per week. You can choose to receive the allowance weekly or in two instalments (lump sums).
To qualify for the fuel allowance, your gross weekly income must be below a certain amount to pass the means test. Your income from some social welfare payments and certain other sources is not counted in the means test. Your capital (savings, property and investments) is also assessed. The first €50,000 of your capital is not included in the means test. If you are under 66, you must be getting a qualifying payment to apply for Fuel Allowance. To qualify, your means must be less than the maximum State Pension (Contributory), including any increases you could get for dependents or living alone, plus an additional €200. This is called the ‘assessable income limit’. For example, in 2025, the maximum State Pension (Contributory) for a single person aged 66 is €289.30. You then add €200 to get a total weekly income limit of €489.30.
If you are getting Jobseeker's Allowance, and your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is on a Community Employment (CE) scheme, they can be considered a qualified adult on your payment if you apply for Fuel Allowance. You can keep your Fuel Allowance if you were getting it before you started any of the following schemes: One Parent Family Payment, Carer's Allowance or Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. You can apply for Fuel Allowance at any point when you are on CE, RSS or Tús if you meet all the relevant qualifying conditions for Fuel Allowance.
If you are over 70, you can apply for the free electricity allowance, a monthly supplement of €35 to help with energy costs.
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When is the fuel allowance paid?
The Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. The Fuel Allowance season typically begins in late September of each year and ends in April, lasting for 28 weeks. For instance, the 2024/2025 Fuel Allowance season started on Monday, 23 September 2024, and was paid for 28 weeks until 4 April 2025. The rate for the 2024/2025 season was €33 per week, with a total payment of €924.
The Fuel Allowance can be paid weekly or in two instalments (lump sums). If you choose to receive the allowance weekly, it is typically paid on the same day as your social welfare payment or pension. For the 2024/2025 season, the first lump sum instalment was paid in September 2024, and the second instalment was paid in January 2025. To receive the allowance in two lump sums, you must fill in the FA CPF1 form at least one month before the first lump sum is due. It's important to note that the lump-sum option may not be available on all schemes.
If you apply for the Fuel Allowance at the start of the season in September, it will not be backdated, but you will receive the payment for January. Therefore, it is recommended to apply before the season starts to ensure you receive the full payment.
The Fuel Allowance should not be confused with the Free Electricity Allowance, which is a monthly supplement of €35 to help with electricity bills for those aged over 70.
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Other ways to save on energy bills
The fuel allowance is a means-tested payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating during the winter months. The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 per week, paid for 28 weeks.
If you don't qualify for the allowance, there are other ways to save on your energy bills. Here are some suggestions:
- Switch suppliers: Compare gas and electricity deals from all suppliers nationwide and switch to a better deal.
- Use a programmable thermostat: Switching to a programmable thermostat can save you up to 10% on cooling and heating costs.
- Improve air duct efficiency: Get a professional to inspect your air ducts for any holes, clogs or leaks, which can reduce HVAC efficiency.
- Switch to a low-flow showerhead: Opting for a 2.5-gallon-per-minute showerhead and taking shorter showers can save water and reduce electricity costs.
- Utilise natural sunlight and air drying for laundry: Limit the use of electric lights and dryers by making use of natural sunlight and air drying for laundry whenever possible.
- Install solar panels: Solar power can be a hedge against rising utility bills, reducing the number of bill payments throughout the year.
- Unplug electronics when not in use: Electronics on standby can contribute significantly to your electricity bill. Unplugging devices or using power strips can help reduce this waste.
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Frequently asked questions
The fuel allowance is €33 per week.
The fuel allowance is typically paid for 28 weeks, from September to April.
Only one person per household can receive the fuel allowance. To be eligible, you must be over 66 (or over 70, depending on the source) and satisfy a means test, or be receiving a qualifying social welfare payment.
You can receive the fuel allowance in weekly payments or in two lump-sum payments of €462 each.
