Ameer Randolph
The Fuel Allowance in Ireland is a means-tested payment to help with the cost of heating homes during the winter period. It is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare or HSE payments. The allowance is worth €924 in total and is paid over 28 weeks, working out at €33 per week. If you are over 70, you can apply for the free electricity allowance, which is a monthly supplement of €35 to help with energy costs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To help with the cost of heating homes during the winter period |
| Eligibility | People on long-term social welfare or HSE payments, or those who satisfy a means test |
| Age requirement | Aged 70 or over, or 66 or over from 1 January 2025 |
| Income requirement | Weekly income must be below a certain amount, depending on age and living arrangements |
| Allowable income for over 70s | €512 per week for a single person, €1,024 per week for a couple |
| Allowable income for under 70s | €489.30 per week for a single person, €682-€748 per week for a couple depending on age |
| Allowable income for over 66s | €524 per week for a single person, €1,048 per week for a couple |
| Savings limit | €50,000 |
| Payment amount | €33 per week or €924 over 28 weeks |
| Lump sum option | Two payments of €462 each in September and January |
| Application form | NFS2 for those aged 66 or over, NFS 1 or NFS2-O/70 for those under 66 |
| Application deadline | Before the start of the winter heating season in late September/early October |
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What You'll Learn
Fuel allowance eligibility
Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment to help with the cost of heating one's home during the winter period in Ireland. The allowance is paid for 28 weeks, and the current rate is €33 per week. Individuals can choose to receive the allowance weekly or in two lump-sum instalments.
To be eligible for the Fuel Allowance, individuals must be residents of Ireland and meet specific criteria regarding their living situation and income. Those who live alone or with a spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant who qualifies for an increase in their pension or social welfare payment are eligible. Additionally, individuals receiving Carer's Benefit and caring for their spouse, partner, cohabitant, or qualified child dependant on a full-time basis are also eligible.
For those under 66 years of age, qualifying for Fuel Allowance typically requires receiving specific social welfare payments. These include receiving Jobseeker's Allowance for more than 312 days (over 12 months) or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for more than 364 days (over 12 months). It's important to note that individuals receiving Carer's Allowance may not automatically satisfy the means test for Fuel Allowance.
Income requirements for eligibility state that individuals can have an income of up to €524 per week, or €1,048 per week for a couple, and still qualify for the Fuel Allowance. Additionally, if an individual is renting out a room in their home for at least 28 consecutive days to someone who is not an employee or immediate family member, they can earn up to €269.23 per week (€14,000 per year) without affecting their Fuel Allowance.
To apply for the Fuel Allowance, individuals can fill out the relevant application form, which can be obtained from local post offices or online. It is recommended to apply before the start of the winter season, usually in early October.
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Income limits
The Fuel Allowance in Ireland is a payment to help with the cost of heating homes. It is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare or HSE payments. The Fuel Allowance payment is currently €33 per week. The lump-sum payment in September and January is €462 per instalment. The exact date changes each year, but it usually starts in early autumn and lasts until late spring.
Eligibility for Fuel Allowance depends on the type of welfare payments you receive and other factors. You may get Fuel Allowance if: You are aged 70 or over, or aged 66 or over from 1 January 2025, and satisfy a means test. You are under the age of 70, or under the age of 66 from 1 January 2025, and are receiving a qualifying social welfare payment and satisfy a means test. If you are under the age of 70 (or 66 from January 2025), you need to be claiming certain welfare payments to get the Fuel Allowance.
The income limit for Fuel Allowance is increased to your higher rate of State Pension (Contributory) plus €200 if you defer your pension and are entitled to a higher rate of payment. The assessable income limit for a single person under 70 is €489.30. The assessable income limit for a couple (where the qualified adult is under 66) is €682. The assessable income limit for a couple (where the qualified adult is 66 or over) is €748. The assessable income limit for a single person aged 66 or over is €524. The assessable income limit for a couple (where one person is over 70 and the other is under 70) is €1,024 per week. The assessable income limit for a couple (where the qualified adult is 66 or over) is €1,048.
Several types of income are not counted when working out the “assessable income” – so it might be worth applying even if your total income is over the thresholds given above. You can qualify if you have been getting Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for more than a year (364 days over 12 months). You qualify if you have been getting Jobseeker's Allowance for more than 312 days (over 12 months).
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Savings limits
The Fuel Allowance in Ireland is a payment to help with the cost of heating homes during the winter months. The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 per week. The allowance is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare or HSE payments. To qualify for Fuel Allowance, 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'.
If you are aged 66 or over, you can fill in the NFS2 form to apply for a fuel allowance. If you are under 66 years of age, you must be getting one of the following qualifying social welfare payments: a pension or benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement (provided there is an equivalent Irish payment).
If you are renting out a room in your home, you can have an income of up to €269.23 a week (€14,000 per year) without affecting your Fuel Allowance. You can also have income from rent of up to €524 per week, or €1,048 per week for a couple, and still qualify for Fuel Allowance. The first €50,000 of your capital is not included in the means test.
For those over 70, the means threshold has been increased to €512 per week for a single person and €1,024 per week for a couple. The amount of savings disregarded in the Over 70s means test has been increased from €20,000 to €50,000.
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Application process
The application process for the Fuel Allowance in Ireland is relatively straightforward. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Eligibility Check:
Firstly, determine your eligibility by considering the following:
- You must be a resident of Ireland.
- Your income and savings must fall below certain limits.
- Your heating costs are not already included in your accommodation.
- You live alone or with an eligible spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant.
- You are receiving certain welfare payments, such as Jobseeker's Allowance or Carer's Allowance, for a specified duration.
- If you are under 66 years of age, you must be receiving qualifying social welfare payments.
Application Forms:
The next step is to obtain the correct application form:
- If you are 66 years of age or older, you need to fill out the NFS2 form.
- If you are under 66 years of age, you need to fill out the NFS1 form.
- These forms can be obtained from your local post office, by downloading them from gov.ie, or by calling 0818 200 400.
Submission:
Once you have completed the relevant application form, it's time to submit it:
- If applying online, go to mywelfare.ie.
- If applying by post, send the completed form to the address specified on the form or to the department from which you receive your social welfare payments.
- If you receive long-term Supplementary Welfare Allowance, submit the form to your local Community Welfare Officer.
- It is recommended to apply before the start of the Fuel Allowance season, usually in late September or early October, as the allowance cannot be backdated.
Payment Options:
You can choose to receive your Fuel Allowance in weekly payments or in two lump-sum instalments:
- To receive the allowance in two instalments, complete the "Change the Payment Frequency of Fuel Allowance Application Form" (FA CPF1) and submit it at least one month before the Fuel Allowance season starts.
- The lump-sum option is not available to everyone; check your eligibility for this option.
Annual Review:
Once you have been awarded the Fuel Allowance, you do not need to reapply every year as long as your circumstances remain the same. However, an annual review of Fuel Allowance customers may be conducted by the Department of Social Protection.
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Alternative energy bill savings
The current rate of Fuel Allowance in Ireland is €33 per week. It is a means-tested payment to help with the cost of heating during the 28-week winter period. Those eligible include people on qualifying long-term social welfare payments, such as Jobseeker's Allowance for over 15 months, Carer's Allowance, and Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for over a year.
If you are struggling with your energy bills, there are several alternative ways to save money:
- Switch energy suppliers annually: By switching suppliers, you can take advantage of new customer discounts, which can range from 10% to 30% and help you save hundreds on your bills. However, these discounts usually only last for the first year, so it's worth looking to switch again before the discount ends.
- Apply for grants and allowances: The Household Benefits Package, for example, offers a monthly gas or electricity allowance of €35 per month, as well as a free TV licence. Other grants are available to make your home more energy-efficient, such as the SEAI grants, which can help reduce your gas and electricity bills.
- Alternative payment plans: If you are in arrears or have built up debt, your energy supplier may offer you an alternative payment plan, allowing you a minimum of 18 months to repay your debt. They may also offer the cheapest tariff available to customers on a financial hardship meter.
- Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS): MABS is an independent, free service that provides money and budgeting advice. They can help if you are having trouble with your energy bills or managing your debts.
- Society of St. Vincent De Paul (SVP): SVP is a charity that works closely with energy suppliers and MABS to help struggling families pay their energy bills and create workable plans.
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Frequently asked questions
The fuel allowance in Ireland is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks, which amounts to a total of €924.
Eligibility for the fuel allowance depends on the type of welfare payments you receive and other factors. You may get Fuel Allowance if:
- You are aged 70 or over, or aged 66 or over from 1 January 2025, and satisfy a means test.
- You are under the age of 70, or under the age of 66 from 1 January 2025, and are receiving a qualifying social welfare payment and satisfy a means test.
- You are getting certain welfare payments such as State pension, Disability Allowance, One parent family payment or Farm Assist.
To apply for the allowance, fill in the Fuel Allowance Scheme application form, which can be found at your local post office or DSP office. If you are aged 66 or over, fill in the NFS2 form. You can also get help filling in your application form at your Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office or Citizens Information Centre.
