Budget 2023 was delivered on Tuesday and announced some major changes to the fuel allowance payment, meaning it will be accessible to more people as we head into the colder months.
Those who qualify for the fuel allowance will also receive an additional lump sum to help heat their home over the coming months. The once-off payment will be €400 and will most likely be paid in November.
The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 which is paid every week for 28 weeks, from the end of September until April. It amounts to a yearly total of €924, which can also be paid out in two lump sums of €462 normally paid in late September and in January.
Read more: Budget 2023 timeline: The key dates for each social welfare payment
However, the additional €400 payment this winter will bring the fuel allowance total for the 2022/2023 season to €1,324. Around 375,000 Irish households already receive the fuel allowance payment but thousands more will qualify after Tuesday's announcement widened the income threshold.
The qualifying weekly income threshold for the Fuel Allowance will increase by €80 on January 1, rising from €120 to €200. For over 70s, the weekly fuel allowance means limit will rise to €500 for single people and €1,000 for couples.
Who is eligible for the Fuel Allowance?
To get the Fuel Allowance payment you must be living in Ireland, be the person mainly responsible for the heating costs of the household, and getting one of the following qualifying payments:
- Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (if qualified)
- Blind Pension
- Death Benefit Pension under Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
- Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Farm Assist
- Guardian's Payment (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
- Incapacity Supplement under the Disablement Pension Scheme
- Invalidity Pension
- Jobseeker’s Allowance Transition
- Jobseeker's Allowance (if qualified)
- One Parent Family Payment
- Revenue Job Assist
- Social Security Payment (of which there is an Irish equivalent payment) from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement
- State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory or Non Contributory)
If you are not living alone, you can qualify for the Fuel Allowance bonus if you live with the following people:
- A dependent adult or dependent child
- A person getting a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance but is not currently in receipt of same (note: only one Fuel Allowance is paid to each household)
- A person who is getting Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and is caring for you or for your dependent adult or dependent child
- A person getting short term Jobseeker's Allowance or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance
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