Fuel Allowance scheme opens with more households now eligible

The Fuel Allowance Scheme for the 2025/26 winter season has officially opened, with 410,000 households across the country set to benefit.

The means-tested payment, designed to help with heating costs during the colder months, will run for 28 weeks.

Recipients can opt to receive €33 per week or two lump sum instalments of €462.

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary TD confirmed that the scheme has been expanded this year, with changes aimed at making more households eligible.

From January 2025, enhanced qualifying conditions for older people were extended to include everyone aged 66 and over, rather than just over-70s. These new rules mean that:

• Applicants no longer need to be in receipt of a Social Protection payment to qualify.

• A single person aged 66 or over can have means of up to €524 per week, while a couple can have means of up to €1,048 per week.

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• The amount of capital disregarded in the means test has increased from €20,000 to €50,000.

Carer’s Allowance has also been added as a qualifying payment for the scheme, provided all other conditions, including the means test, are met.

Minister Calleary said the allowance continues to play “a vital role in supporting hundreds of thousands of families with their heating costs over the winter months.”

“This is such a valuable support for so many households. We have expanded the eligibility conditions this year to allow more households to qualify and I encourage people to check their eligibility,” he said.

Applications for the Fuel Allowance are now open through the Department of Social Protection.