Thousands of Irish people will receive a €400 lump sum from Monday as part of the cost of living package announced in Budget 2023.
Those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance, which is aimed at helping with the cost of heating your home during the winter months, are to receive the once-off payment.
Many people getting a social welfare payment will qualify for the Fuel Allowance – see ‘How to qualify for Fuel Allowance’ below.
The Fuel Allowance season normally begins in late September of each year and ends in April.
Fuel Allowance payments began from the week starting Monday, September 26 and will be paid for 28 weeks at a rate of €33.
If you qualify for the allowance, it is paid with your social welfare payment on the same day. However, you can choose to get the Fuel Allowance paid weekly or paid in 2 lump sums.
People aged 70 and over will qualify for Fuel Allowance as long as their weekly means (which includes their State Pension) is not above €500 per week for a single person and €1,000 per week for a couple in January 2023.
In the case of a couple, only the person applying for the allowance needs to be aged 70 or over.
People aged under 70, weekly allowable means above the applicable State Pension (Contributory) rate will increase by €80 from €120 to €200 in January 2023.
Disablement Benefit and half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance in January 2023.
A number of extra once-off payments will also be paid in the week beginning November 14 2022.
These include:
- €200 if you get a Living Alone Increase
- €500 if you get Working Family Payment
- €500 if you get Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or if you get the yearly Carer’s Support Grant. You will get one €500 payment only, even if you are getting more than one of these payments or you are caring for more than one person.
If you get the Carer’s Support Grant, you will get the €500 payment in the week beginning November 21 2022.
Most people on a weekly social welfare payment got a double payment in the week beginning October 17.
In addition, a double payment of Child Benefit was paid on November 1 2022.
However, people getting Illness Benefit did not get a double payment.
The first instalment of three energy credits to the value of €600 will also be made in November 2022, the second in January 2023, and the third in March 2023.
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