Details announced on Fuel Allowance Scheme

The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has announced the start of the National Fuel Allowance Scheme for the 2022/'23 season.

Fuel Allowance, which is a means-assessed payment, will be paid for 28 weeks to over 371,000 households across the State.

The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33 or if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments.

As part of the Social Protection Budget Package of €2.2 billion, Minister Humphreys secured a €400 additional Lump Sum payment which will be paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance Payment the week commencing, November 14,

In addition, as part of Budget 2023, Minister Humphreys secured funding for the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance scheme. This expansion will bring an additional 81,000 households into the scheme with a new Means Test taking effect for Over 70s from January.

Under the new Means Test for Over 70s, a single person can have income of €500 per week and a couple can have income of €1000 per week. In the case of a couple where one person is under 70 and one person is over 70, they will be assessed using the Over 70s Means Test criteria.