Fuel Allowance to benefit 410,000 households over winter – O’Shea

Eligible households around the country are being encouraged to apply for the Fuel Allowance as the 2025/26 season has started, Cork North West Fine Gael John Paul O’Shea TD.

Chair of the Oireachtas Social Protection Committee, Deputy John Paul O’Shea says “it plays a vital role in supporting hundreds of thousands of families around the country with their heating costs over the winter months”.

Fuel Allowance, which is a means-assessed payment, will be paid for 28 weeks to over 410,000 households across the State.

The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33 or if preferred, by way of two payments of €462 each.

“You don’t need to reapply if you have availed of the Fuel Allowance if your circumstances haven’t changed, you will continue to receive the same social welfare payment. The easiest way to apply for the Fuel Allowance is through MyWelfare.ie,” said Deputy O’Shea.

From January 2025, the over 70s enhanced qualifying conditions were extended to people aged 66 and over.

These enhanced conditions include:

• A person aged over 66 no longer has to be in receipt of a Social Protection payment to apply for Fuel Allowance.

• A single person aged 66 or over can have means of €524 per week while a couple can have means of €1,048 per week.

In addition, the amount of capital that is disregarded was increased from €20,000 to €50,000.

Furthermore, from January 2025, Carer’s Allowance became a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, subject to the applicant meeting all criteria of the Fuel Allowance scheme, including satisfying the means test.

“I would also like to acknowledge the work carried out by my colleague Heather Humphreys in her role as Social Protection Minister in increasing the Fuel Allowance allocations,” continued Deputy O’Shea.

“Heather consistently champions measures to protect the most vulnerable and helping families, including expanding the fuel allowance and increasing eligibility so that more households could benefit, showing that she would make an excellent President of Ireland.”

The easiest way to apply for the Fuel Allowance is through MyWelfare.ie.

“As the winter season begins, I will continue to work with Government to ensure that supports such as the Fuel Allowance are strengthened particularly due to rising energy costs, while it is also important to build on the strong foundation that Heather Humphreys put in place,” concluded Deputy John Paul O’Shea.