When Is the Next Fuel Allowance 2023 Payment Date?
The Fuel Allowance aims to help those dependent on long-term social welfare payments with the high cost of heating their homes during the winter months. Particularly nowadays with the cost of living so high, the Fuel Allowance can really help those who really need it. Read on to find out if you're eligible, how much you will receive, and how to apply.
What Is the Fuel Allowance?
The Fuel Allowance is a payment that aims to help people in vulnerable situations in Ireland pay for heating during the winter months. It’s paid on a per household basis, so only one member of a household can receive it and it is usually paid weekly or in instalments. The Fuel Allowance should not be confused for the Free Electricity Allowance.
Check Out Our Full Household Benefit Package Guide!
How Much Is the Fuel Allowance in Ireland?
As of September 2022, the Fuel Allowance in Ireland is €33 per week. Prior to this increase, the weekly Fuel Allowance was €28. The total amount of the Fuel Allowance for the 2022/2023 season was €924.
How Is the Fuel Allowance Paid?
The Fuel Allowance in Ireland can be received in two different ways. Either it is paid as a weekly €33 payment during the fuel season (usually from September to April for 28 weeks) or in two fuel allowance lump-sum payments, which are typically paid in October and January. If you chose to receive your fuel allowance in lump-sum payments for the 2022/2023 season, the first one should have been for €462 and the second as well.
What if I receive benefits and other weekly payments? For those that receive weekly payments, the Fuel Allowance is typically paid together with your usual pension or benefit. If you do not receive a social welfare payment, your Fuel Allowance will be paid directly into your bank account, or you can also collect it at your local post office.
What Is the Latest Fuel Allowance News?
The Fuel Allowance for 2022/2023 has already been paid out. It started in late September and carried on until April 2023. It was paid out over 28 weeks to over 370,000 households in Ireland.
Am I Eligible for the Fuel Allowance?
There are three conditions you need to meet when checking to see if you’re eligible for the Fuel Allowance in Ireland. In order to receive the Fuel Allowance, you must be eligible in each category in order to qualify. You will need to be:
- Living alone
- Receive a qualifying payment
- Pass the means test
Do I Need To Live Alone for the Fuel Allowance?
The first consideration for eligibility is your living situation. You must either be living alone or with one of the following:
- Dependents
Dependent occupants such as a spouse, civil partner, or children. - Other Qualifiers
Other occupants who would also qualify for the Fuel Allowance in Ireland. - Carer’s Benefit Recipient
A person who is receiving the carer’s benefit and caring for you or your dependants full-time. - Jobseeker’s Allowance Recipient
A person receiving the jobseeker’s allowance or the basic supplementary welfare allowance.
What Are the Qualifying Payments for the Fuel Allowance?
Secondly, you will need to be receiving one of the following qualifying benefits in order to be eligible for the Fuel Allowance:
- State pension
- Widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension
- Incapacity supplement
- Blind pension
- Invalidity pension
- Disability allowance
- Deserted wife’s allowance
- One-parent family payment
- Guardian’s payment
- Farm assist
- Pre-retirement allowance
- Basic supplementary welfare allowance (for more than 455 days)
- Jobseekers allowance (for more than 390 days)
- Jobseekers transitional payment
- Death benefit (under the occupational injuries scheme)
What Is the Fuel Allowance Means Test?
Finally, in order to receive the Fuel Allowance, you need to pass the means test to show that your income is below the threshold in order to receive help. This means that your weekly income (before taxes) needs to be below a certain amount before you can receive the Fuel Allowance. The amount of money you have also extends to your wealth:
- Income Limits
If you’re under 70, your income can’t be over the rate for State Pension plus another €200. This is called the assessable income limit which is €465.30 a week for a single person and €642 for a couple. If you’re over 70, you can have an income of up to €500 a week. - Capital
If you are under 70, the first €20,000 of your investments, savings, property, or shares are not taken into account. If you’re over 70, this is the first €50,000.
Can I still switch energy providers while on the Fuel Allowance? You’ll still be able to switch energy providers while you’re on the Fuel Allowance. Since the Fuel Allowance is paid directly to you, it’s not discounted from your energy bill automatically so it doesn’t depend on the energy provider you’re with.
Learn More in Our Switch Providers Guide!
How Do I Apply for the Fuel Allowance?
To apply for the Fuel Allowance, you need to fill out the NFS1 form. You can either print this document yourself or pick it up from any post office. You can also simply text “FORM FUEL (your name) (your address)”, for example, “FORM FUEL Mary Murphy 5 Bracken Lane Arklow Co. Wicklow”, to 51909, and a fuel allowance form will be sent to your home.
When filling in the Fuel Allowance form, don’t forget to indicate whether you’d prefer to receive weekly or lump-sum payments. If you’ve already applied or qualified for the allowance and later changed your mind about how you’d prefer to be paid, you can still change it by filling in the CPF1 form.
Do I need to reapply for the Fuel Allowance?
You won’t need to reapply for the Fuel Allowance every year. Unless your financial circumstances change or the payment you receive is stopped (or changed to a different payment type), you will still qualify for the Fuel Allowance in Ireland. As such, you can send off your initial application and then enjoy some peace of mind.
Where Do I Send My Fuel Allowance Application Form?
Once you have filled out the Fuel Allowance form, you will need to send it to the relevant government department that issues your benefit payment. For example, if you receive a state pension, then you’ll need to send your form to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
If you’re unsure of where to send your application, we've provided the qualifying payments and their associated contact addresses below (information sourced from Citizens Information).
| Payment Type | Apply to: |
|---|---|
| Disability Allowance Incapacity Supplement Invalidity Pension |
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Social Welfare Services Office, Government Buildings, Balinalee Road, Longford. Tel: ☎ (043) 334 0000 Locall: ☎ 1890 927 770 Webpage: http://www.welfare.ie |
| Blind Pension Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance Guardian's Payment ( C & NC ) Prisoner's Wife Allowance State Pension ( C & NC ) Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's ( C & NC ) |
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo. Note: This office does not accept visits from the public. Tel: ☎ (071) 915 7100 Locall: ☎ 1890 500 000 Webpage: http://www.welfare.ie |
| Farm Assist Jobseeker's Transitional Payment Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance (15 months) One Parent Family Payment |
Send your filled-in form to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Office |
| Long-term Supplementary Welfare Allowance (15 months) | Make an application with a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection representative at your local welfare office. |
| Persons in receipt of a social security payment from a country either covered by EU regulations, or with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement | National Fuel Scheme Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo. Tel: ☎ (071) 915 7100 Locall: ☎ 1890 500 000 Webpage: http://www.welfare.ie |
When Is the Fuel Allowance 2023/24 Payment Date?
The Fuel Allowance for 2023/24 is due to start from 25 September 2023 and end on 5 April 2024. It’ll be paid out over the standard 28 weeks and will include a total of €924 during that time.
Will There Be Any Changes to the Fuel Allowance 2023/24?
Like with the Budget 2024 last year, the Budget 2024 might include some changes in the payment amounts for the Fuel Allowance. This might be either an increase, given the persistent cost of living crisis, or it could be a decrease from the extra Fuel Allowance payment amount added on last year.
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