By Anita McSorley

Copyright irishmirror

Thousands of people across Ireland are eligible for a €462 social welfare sum that will be paid out this week. The Fuel Allowance is designed to help cover the costs of heating homes during the colder months.

The scheme runs annually from September to April and can be paid either at €33 a week, or in two lump sum instalments of €462.

However, ahead of Budget 2026, there are calls to increase this sum. Charity Alone is calling for minimum increases of €20, stating: “Heating is a health issue for older people, utility bills are the main financial concern of those supported by ALONE.”

The Labour Party has also called for an increase and for eligibility to be expanded to include those on the Working Family Payment.

Full details of Budget 2026 will be unveiled when Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers present the financial package on Tuesday, 7 October.

To qualify for the Fuel Allowance applicants must meet certain criteria. Below is everything you need to know, including how to apply.

What is the Fuel Allowance?

Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating homes during the autumn and winter months. The scheme was expanded this year to allow more households to qualify, and an estimated 410,000 people will get it.

The Fuel Allowance runs from September for 28 weeks until April, and is paid to only one person in a household The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 per week, with a total payment of €924 over the 28 weeks. You can choose to get it paid every week or paid in two lump sum instalments of €462.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility is based on age, social welfare payments and income. You must:

Live alone Be aged 66 or over Be under 66 and get a qualifying social welfare payment Satisfy a means test

You may still qualify if you live with:

A spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who qualifies for an increase on your pension or social welfare payment, or is getting a qualifying payment in their own right Dependent children A person who gets Carer’s Benefit, and who is caring for you or for your spouse, partner or cohabitant, or for a qualified child dependant on a full-time basis A person getting short-term Jobseeker’s Allowance (less than 312 days) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (less than 364 days) A person getting a qualifying payment (for example, long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance) and who would be eligible for a Fuel Allowance in their own right A person aged 66 or over A person renting a room from you, where this doesn’t affect your entitlement to Fuel Allowance A person you provide accommodation to in your own home, and for whom you get the Accommodation Recognition Payment

You must also live in Ireland, and cannot qualify if your heating costs are fully covered in your accommodation.

Qualifying social welfare payments

For under 66s, qualifying payments include:

Qualifying Social Insurance Payments

Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme Invalidity Pension Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) Death Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme 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)

Qualifying Social Assistance Payments

One Parent Family Payment Carer’s Allowance Disability Allowance Blind Pension Bereaved Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension Deserted Wife’s Benefit or Deserted Wife’s Allowance Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) Farm Assist Jobseeker’s Transitional payment (JST)

Qualifying special cases

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

Eligible if receiving Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for more than 364 days over a 12-month period (paid on a 7-day week basis).

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA)

Eligible if receiving JA for more than 312 days over 12 months (paid on a 6-day week basis). Days on Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) and Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) can count if immediately before your JA claim. Fuel Allowance is retained if moving to JA from One Parent Family Payment, Carer’s Allowance, or Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment.

Spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme

Can be considered a qualified adult for Fuel Allowance if you are receiving JA.

Employment or education support schemes

Fuel Allowance is retained if already receiving a long-term qualifying payment before starting:

Back to Education Allowance Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) Community Employment (CE) Rural Social Scheme (RSS) Tús

Time spent on CE, RSS, or Tús can count towards the minimum number of days on a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.

Half-rate payments

Do not qualify for Fuel Allowance if received in addition to a full qualifying payment. Exception: Half-rate Carer’s Allowance is allowed.

Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment, which means that the Department of Social Protection examines all your sources of income. Your gross weekly income must be below a certain amount to pass the means test.

For people aged 66 or over:

You can have an income of up to €524 per week as a single person, or €1,048 per week as a couple and still qualify. Capital such as savings, property and investments is also assessed, but the first €50,000 of your capital is disregarded in the means test.

For people under 66:

You must be receiving a qualifying social welfare payment. To qualify, your assessable income must be less than the maximum State Pension (Contributory) plus €200. For example, in 2025, the maximum State Pension (Contributory) for a single person under 66 is €289.30 per week. Adding €200 gives a total weekly income limit of €489.30.

How to apply

If you apply for Fuel Allowance after the start of the Fuel Allowance season, it will not be backdated. You do not need to reapply for Fuel Allowance each year as long as, your circumstances remain the same and you continue to get the same social welfare payment.

You can apply for online if you have a MyGovID account. If you can’t apply online, you can use a paper application form

If you are aged under 66, fill in the NFS1 form to apply for fuel allowance. If you are aged 66 or over, fill in the NFS2 form to apply for fuel allowance.

You can also get a form from your local post office or by phoning 0818 200 400. For more information on applying, you can click here.

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