All you need to know as Fuel Allowance is extended to thousands more people

Thousands more people will be able to avail of the Fuel Allowance scheme in Ireland from January 2023 onwards.

This comes as the government works to ensure households can afford to heat their homes amid the current energy crisis.

It is understood that an additional 81,000 people will be able to apply for the Fuel Allowance from December 1, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed.

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This would see the additional payments being handed out as soon as January while around 865,000 people are due to receive their lump sum payments this week.

Among the cash boosts coming through in the coming days are:

• a €400 Fuel Allowance
• a €500 cost of living payment to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment
• a €500 payment for the Disability Support Grant
• a €200 payment to people in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance

While speaking about the eligibility extension for the fuel allowance, which will benefit around 81,000 people in Ireland, Minister Heather Humphreys said she would be expanding the criteria for the scheme.

“Come December I'm looking at expanding the criteria around the fuel allowance for older people,” she said.

“I'm going to announce the details for those who are over 70 and would qualify for the fuel allowance. I'm hoping to bring in another 81,000 people into the fuel allowance scheme under that measure.”

She went on to say that the details of the expansion would be announced in December, with applications reopening for those who wish to apply.

It will then take effect on January 1 and it is understood that the enhanced scheme will see a single person over 70 with a weekly income of less than €500 able to apply.

For couples, the weekly limit will be €1,000, and when one member of a couple is over 70, they will be assessed on an over-70s basis.

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