What help can you get paying your energy bills?
If you struggle to pay the day to day costs of running your home, you could qualify for a helping hand with your energy bills. Here are some of the grants and allowances that could help cut the cost of your gas and electricity.
Latest Update Supports announced Budget 2027
The fuel allowance will be increased by €5 per week to €43 per week, with an increased income threshold for single people over 66 to €641.
Household Benefits Package
The Household Benefits Package is a set of allowances to help towards the cost of running your home.
If you’re eligible for the Household Benefits Package, you could get:
To get the Household Benefits Package you must:
- Be living in Ireland full-time
- Be the only person in your household to receive it
- Have the electricity or gas bill in your name
- Aged 70 or over or aged between 66 and 70 and getting a state pension
- Aged under 70 and meet the additional rules for ‘People aged under 70.’
Only one person per household can receive it. Apply online at MyWelfare.ie or by post using the Household Benefit Package form (HB1).
From 8 September 2025, new customers applying for the Household Benefits Package will have their Free Electricity Allowance (FEA) or Free Gas Allowance (FGA) paid directly to their nominated bank account or post office only.
How to apply
Apply for the Households Benefits Package online, by visiting the MyWelfare website.
If you can’t apply online, you can fill in the Household Benefit Package application form (pdf) and return it to the address listed on the back.
Find out more about the package and check if you qualify on Gov.ie.
Fuel Allowance
The Fuel Allowance helps with heating costs during the colder months.
The 2026/27 Fuel Allowance started on Monday, 28 September 2026 and will be paid for around 28 weeks through to April.
If you’re getting certain social welfare payments, you’ll qualify for the support, which helps with the cost of heating your home during the winter months.
You can choose to have the Fuel Allowance paid weekly at €38 per week or in two instalments*:
- €532 first instalment (September 2026)
- Second instalment (January 2027)
From January 2027, the weekly allowance will rise to €43.
Key updates for 2027
- Income limits have increased to €641 per week for a single person over 66
- The weekly rate increased to €43 from January 2027
*Some participants in employment or community schemes (e.g. Tús, CE, RSS) can’t opt for the lump-sum payment.
How to apply
Apply online via MyWelfare or download a paper form (NFS1 form if under 66, NFS2 form if over 66).
Our guide How to claim the Fuel Allowance covers the qualifying criteria, the application process, and how to change your payment type.
If you apply later in the year, your payments will not be backdated.
Additional Needs Payment
If you’re on a low income or getting social welfare, you may be able to get an Additional Needs Payment to cover essential bills such as fuel or electricity.
Apply using a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA1) form and post it to your local Community Welfare Service.
To help process the claim, you should have your PPSN, proof of identity, as well as documents to show your income, expenses and financial situation.
Free energy upgrades
The SEAI’s Fully Funded Energy Upgrades (also known as the Warmer Homes Scheme), offer free home energy upgrades for eligible homeowners receiving certain welfare payments.
The purpose of these grants is to help make your home more energy efficient and reduce your gas and electricity bills.
Upgrades offered under the scheme include:
To qualify, you must:
- Own and live in your own home
- Own a home built and occupied before 2006
- Receive one of the welfare payments listed on their website
You must also decide what kind of energy upgrades your home needs. For more information on the grants available and how to apply, visit the SEAI website.
If you are not eligible for the scheme, you can still apply for other home energy upgrades.
An Post Household Budget service
If you’re struggling to manage your household finances and are on a qualifying social welfare benefit, you could apply for An Post’s free Household Budget Service.
The scheme is operated on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. If you receive a social welfare payment, you can use An Post’s free Household Budget Service to manage your bills.
Money is deducted directly from your payment and sent to your utility supplier.
Key details include:
- You can pay any amount, but no more than 25% of your weekly social welfare payment.
- The minimum weekly deduction is €5.
Which suppliers are in the scheme?
The broadband and mobile provider Eir, local authority and housing agencies are also involved in the scheme.
How to apply
Apply by calling 1800 70 71 72 or by sending a Household Budget Deduction form to:
Household Budget Scheme Freepost An Post G.P.O. Dublin 1
You’ll need to provide:
- The name of the supplier to receive the payment e.g. Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy or SSE Airtricity
- Your account number, full name and address
- The amount you would like deducted from each social welfare payment for the named supplier
You can also email householdbudgetadmin@anpost.ie for more information.
Other ways to save on your energy bills
Once you’ve got the right financial support in place, consider other ways you could make your bills cheaper. Here’s two of the simplest ways to make savings.
Consider a payment plan
An alternative payment plan allows you to spread costs equally across the year into equal monthly payments, making it easier to manage bills. Some suppliers will also allow you take a payment holiday.
Your supplier must make at least four attempts to contact you before disconnecting your electricity.
Switch to a cheaper tariff
You could save up to €480 by switching to a cheaper gas & electricity tariff which could make a huge difference to your household bills.
Switching is easy and takes just a few minutes. If you haven’t switched in the last 12 months, then it’s even more likely that you could make some big savings. Here’s how to switch your gas and electricity supplier.
Be more energy-efficient
One of the best ways to cut your energy bills if you don’t qualify for support is to make simple changes in your home and use less gas and electricity.
There are lots of easy things you can do to make your home more energy-efficient, without spending any extra money.
See our top energy saving tips to get started.
Switch and save up to €480 on your energy bills
It only takes a few minutes to find a cheaper deal and start saving
