A Guide to the Fuel Allowance 2024/2025

By David Tait Reviewed by Cormac Breen

Editorial Manager

You can apply for the Fuel Allowance online by using your MyGovID account. The fuel allowance payment begins in late September 2024 and runs until April 2025 at a rate of €33 per week. It can be paid to you in 2 instalments of €462 in September 2024 and January 2025. To be eligible for the fuel allowance, you must meet certain criteria as laid out by the Department of Social Protection.

What Is the Fuel Allowance?

The Fuel Allowance is a payment scheme that aims to help people in vulnerable situations in Ireland pay for heating during the winter months. The figure is set by the government annually as part of the national budget.

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, which is part of the household benefits package and designed to help with electricity bills for those aged over 70.

How Much Is the Fuel Allowance for 2024/2025?

The Fuel Allowance in Ireland can be received in two different ways:

1. Paid as a weekly €33 payment during the fuel season (usually from September to April for 28 weeks).
2. Two fuel allowance lump-sum payments, which are typically paid in September and January.

The Fuel Allowance works out at €462 whether you decide to receive it weekly, or as two lump sums.



Energy

Looking for extra financial help to cover the cost of your winter energy bills?

Call Selectra now and switch for free to a cheaper provider in just 15 mins!

(01) 913 1771 Get a Free Callback

Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm

Selectra Service

Energy

Looking for extra help to cover the cost of your winter energy bills?

We're currently closed but please leave us your number and we'll give you a free callback as soon as we're open!

Not Open? Click Here to Get a Free Callback!

Selectra Service

What Are the Payment Dates for the 2024/2025 Fuel Allowance

The 2024/2025 Fuel Allowance began on Monday, 23rd of September 2024 and will run for 28 weeks until Friday, 4th of April 2025.

Weekly payments are made on the same day as you collect your social welfare payment or pension.

The fuel allowance in Ireland is set at €33 per week for a total of 28 weeks in total, recipients will receive a total of €924. It can be paid to you in 2 instalments of €462, in September 2024 and January 2025.

How Do I Qualify for the Fuel Allowance 2024/2025?

There are three conditions you need to meet when checking to see if you’re eligible for the Fuel Allowance in Ireland. You must be eligible in each category in order to qualify.

You will need to be:

1. Living alone.
2. Receive a qualifying payment. (social welfare payment)
3. Pass a 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:

1. Dependents
   Dependent occupants such as a spouse, civil partner, or children.
2. Other Qualifiers
   Other occupants who would also qualify for the Fuel Allowance in Ireland.
3. Carer’s Benefit Recipient
   A person who is receiving the carer’s benefit and caring for you or your dependants full-time.
4. 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)
• Carer's Allowance (from January 2025)

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

How Do I Apply for the Fuel Allowance 2024/2025?

You can apply for the Fuel Allowance online by using your MyGovID account.

If you prefer to apply by post, you must fill out one of the two following documents.

1. If you are aged under 70, fill in the NFS1 form
2. If you are over 70, fill in the NFS2 form.

You can either print this document yourself or pick it up from any post office.

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.

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.

Where Do I Send My Fuel Allowance Application?

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.

Below, you will find the necessary postal addresses for the corresponding government department where you can send your application: