Following on from the cold season that saw a worsening cost of living crisis, many households are finding it difficult to keep abreast of heating and electricity bills.
Energy suppliers have warned that heat and light bills could see an increase, RSVP Live reported.
However, there are four social welfare payments or grants that could help alleviate some of the costs of heat and light bills.
READ MORE: Met Eireann hot weather verdict as Ireland to see knock-on effects of Spain’s blistering heatwave
The Additional Needs Payment
This payment was brought to light earlier this year and looks to assist people with an expense that they are unable to pay from their weekly income.
The amount you receive depends on your circumstances.
The Additional Needs Payment can be gotten for:
An increase in your fuel or electricity costs
Essential repairs to property, including motor vehicles and replacing household appliances and furniture
Funeral costs
Deposits for private rented accommodation
Bedding and cooking utensils, if you are setting up home for the first time
Food, clothing and shelter after an emergency event such as a fire or flood
Recurring travel costs to hospital
Visiting a relative in hospital or prison
This is not a complete list, other expenses can be covered too
More information on this payment can be viewed here.
Fuel Allowance
To receive a Fuel Allowance, you must live in the state, along and must be in receipt of a qualifying payment.
An extra once-off payment of Fuel Allowance was given out this year which was paid on top of the normal seasonal allowance.
With Budget 2023 to be made public in September, the government is looking at other once-off payments.
More information on this payment can be found here.
Household Benefits Package
To get this, you have to:
Be living in Ireland (full-time, all year round)
Be the only person in your household getting the HBP
Have the electricity or gas bill in your name (if you are applying for an Electricity or Gas Allowance)
Be aged 70 or over
Be aged under 70 and meet the additional rules for ‘People aged under 70’ set out below.
Those under 70 and living with their spouse, cohabitant or civil partner, can get the HBP if they are getting a qualifying social welfare payment and:
You are getting an increase in your qualifying social welfare payment for them (see list of qualifying social welfare payments below) or
They are getting their own qualifying social welfare payment listed below or
They are getting a social welfare payment not listed below and they satisfy a means test.
To find out more about the qualifying social welfare payments, click here.
Grants for a home energy upgrade
This will allow you to improve the BER rating of your home, in turn lowering the amount of electricity or gas that you use.
For this, you have to:
Be the owner of a property built and occupied before 2011 for insulation, heating control systems and renewable systems grants
Have a home with a BER of B3 or lower before the work
Reach a BER of at least B2 after the work and have a BER improvement of 100kWh/m2 per year
Not have already used grants for the same energy upgrades
Use an SEAI registered company (One Stop Shop) to manage the process, work and applications
You can find out more about this payment here.
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