The Fuel Allowance is a government payment to help people on a lower income with the cost of heating their homes in the winter month.

The Fuel Allowance is typically paid for a period of six to seven months between September and April each year.

For the current season, the Allowance is being paid from September 23, 2024, through to April 4, 2025.

Eligibility for the fuel allowance is broadly divided into two categories.

The people in question must also either be:

The Fuel Allowance is available for people who are living on their own, or living together with people in the following categories:

The half-rate Carer’s Allowance and Disablement Benefit payments are also no longer included in the means test for the fuel allowance.

Only one person in a household may receive the Fuel Allowance. If living with someone who is over the age of 70, it is advised that they apply for the allowance.

The Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment. This means that a person may only be eligible for the payment if their income or other means do not exceed a specified threshold.

The threshold for the payment is set at different levels of people living alone or with another, and by the applicant’s age.

For a person over 70 the maximum weekly income allowed to qualify for the Fuel Allowance is €524 for a person living alone, or €1,024 for a couple.

The formula for means testing people under 70 is more complicated. Their income must be less than the the maximum State Pension (Contributory), plus an additional €200.

Thus, for a single person under the age of 70 the income threshold is €477.30. For a couple where the qualified spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is under 66 years it is €662. And for a couple where the qualified spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is over 66 years and under 70 it is €725.90.

Sources of income which are calculated for the purpose of the means test include:

For someone Under the Age of 70 the first €20,000 of their capital is not included in the means test assessment. For someone Over the Age of 70 they can have €50,000 of capital which is not assessed.

Capital is assessed by assuming there is a weekly income from capital above the thresholds mentioned already.

If a person possesses a property which is being rented out then the rental income is assessed, if it is not being rented then the value minus mortgage is assessed as Capital.

Qualifying State Contributory payments (such as State Contributory Pension, Invalidity Pension, Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension) should also be included as income for the means testing, minus any disregarded allowances.

From January 2024, a person can choose to start claiming their State Pension (Contributory) anytime between the ages of 66 and 70.

If a person defers their pension, then they may be entitled to a higher rate of this State Pension (Contributory). This means that the means threshold for a person who is entitled to a higher rate of pension due to deferring it should be assessed at that higher rate, plus an additional €200.

There are a number of payments and allowances which people can receive which are not assessed as part of the means testing for the Fuel Allowance.

Compensation paid for Mother and Baby Home survivors or for people who contracted Hepetitis C from contaminated blood products is also not assessed.

People who rent out a room in their home, not a second property, are able to receive up to €269.23 per week which is not assessed as part of the means test.

This person must not be an immediate family member or an employee, and must reside in the room at least 28 days of the year. They do not otherwise have to qualify for the Fuel Allowance themself.

People under the age of 70 who are applying for the Fuel Allowance must be in receipt of one or more qualifying payments.

You may qualify for a Fuel Allowance if you are getting:

The Fuel Allowance is meant to help people meet their heating needs, and is not paid if someone is in a living arrangement where their heating needs are being met fully as part of their living arrangements.

The fuel allowance is currently set at €33 per week, adding up to €924 for the entire 2024/25 season. It can be paid to people receiving it in weekly instalments, or in two lump sum payments.

In order to get the payment made in two instalments people must submit the Change the Payment Frequency of Fuel Allowance Application Form (FA CPF1) at least a month before the fuel allowance season starts if they meet the criteria.

Budget 2025 made two changes to the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance affecting means testing and qualifying payments.

Application for the fuel allowance should be submitted before the start of the season in order to get the greatest payment.

If someone applies after the start of the season in September, they may still receive the weekly allowance from that point forward, but it will not be backdated.

How to apply for the fuel allowance will vary depending on the age of the applicant and what, if any, qualifying payments they are receiving.

The quickest and easiest way to apply is online at MyWelfare.ie. Otherwise, applications can be made by post using the correct form and sending it to the relevant office.

Online applications are not available for people in receipt of the long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance (12 months), Jobseeker’s Transitional Payments, Farm Assist or One-Parent Family Payment.

People in receipt of different payments should send their postal applications for the fuel allowance to different offices.