An additional 81,000 people will be able to apply for the Fuel Allowance from next month, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed.
It comes as Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath confirmed that there are “no plans” to roll out any more cost of living payments in the new year.
The Ministers announced that from Wednesday onwards, some 865,000 people will receive lump sum payments.
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This includes 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 and a €200 payment to people in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance.
Minister Humphreys said that the Fuel Allowance will be extended from December 1 onwards.
“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 continued: “I’ll be announcing the details in December and we'll be opening up the applications.
“It will take effect from January 1. We don't know how many are going to apply, so we have to have an application process in place.
“We plan to have the applications out on December 1.”
Under the enhanced scheme, a single person over 70 with a weekly income less than €500 can apply.
For couples, the weekly limit will be €1,000. When one member of a couple is over 70 and the other is under, they will be assessed on an over-70s basis.
One Government source told the mirror that Ms Humphreys is extending the allowance as she “doesn’t want older people being cold”.
Minister McGrath, meanwhile, said that while the Government is keeping cost of living payments under review, there are currently “no plans” to introduce more measures to help tackle rising costs.
“You will have payments between now and Christmas across the different payment schemes and then early next year as well in the form of the electricity support,” he said.
“Then the permanent Budget measures kick in in January, which will give some extra help to people at that time as well.
“We have no plans beyond that.”
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