How to claim the Fuel Allowance in Ireland
If you get a social welfare allowance and struggle to pay your winter energy bills, you could be eligible for extra help. Here’s how to claim the Fuel Allowance.
What is the Fuel Allowance?
Fuel Allowance helps cover the cost of heating your home if you’re on social welfare payments. It’s usually paid weekly but if you are on certain benefits you can claim it in two lump sums.
You can get the Fuel Allowance in addition to the Household Benefits Package.
How much do you get?
You can choose to get the Fuel Allowance paid every week or paid in two instalments.
In total, Fuel Allowance is worth €924 and works out the same whether you choose weekly or lump sum payments.
- The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 per week
- The lump sum payment in September and January is €462 per instalment
When is the allowance paid?
The exact date changes each year, but it usually starts in early autumn and lasts until late spring.
The 2024/25 Fuel Allowance starts on Monday, 23 September 2024 and is paid for 28 weeks until Friday, 4 April 2025.
Weekly payments will be on the same day you get your pension or social welfare payments. If you opt for two lump sums, these are usually paid in September and January.
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Who can get the Fuel Allowance?
Eligibility for Fuel Allowance depends on the type of welfare payments you receive and other factors. You may get Fuel Allowance if:
Social welfare payments
If you are under the age of 70 (or 66 from January 2025) you need to be claiming certain welfare payments to get the Fuel Allowance. For example, State pension, Disability Allowance, One parent family payment or Farm Assist. You can check the Gov.ie site for the full list of qualifying allowances.
Who you live with
If you live with someone who can afford to pay for your energy bills you may not be able to claim. Here’s the full list of approved living arrangements.
How is your income assessed?
You can only claim if you’re unable to meet the cost of your energy bills on your own. If you have significant savings for example you may not qualify for the Fuel Allowance. Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment. In a means test, your total weekly income must be below a certain amount to qualify for the allowance.
The income you’re allowed to have for Fuel Allowance is the current maximum rate of the contributory state pension including any additional benefits you may get for your age, living alone and dependants up to certain thresholds.
If you already get a qualifying social welfare payment, you will usually qualify for Fuel Allowance.
Fuel Allowance income limits
- Over 66s: The weekly allowable income is €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple. Allowed savings are €50,000.
How do you check eligibility?
A range of circumstances could mean you’re ineligible for the fuel allowance. Check the guidelines before you apply.
You might not be successful if your income and savings are too high. Read the income limits and saving amounts for more information.
Only one Fuel Allowance will be paid per household. If two or more people qualify, you should check which one of you should apply for the allowance.
How to claim
If you haven’t applied for the Fuel Allowance before, you can either:
- Complete an online application at mywelfare.ie.
- Collect form NFS 1 or NFS2-O/70 from your local post office or download from gov.ie
If you’re applying using a paper application form, you need to send the completed form to the department you get your social welfare payment from. The address will depend on which qualifying allowance you receive. Check where to send your form at Gov.ie.
If you’ve been receiving the Fuel Allowance and your circumstances haven’t changed, you don’t need to reapply.
How is it paid?
You can request that the allowance go directly into your bank, credit union or building society or collect it from the post office, along with any social welfare payments.
How to change your payment method
To change the frequency of your Fuel Allowance to a weekly, or lump sum payment you can:
- Complete a FA CPF 1 form online.
- Collect a form from your local post office, Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch.
If you opt for a lump sum after the first payment has been made, you’ll continue to get weekly payments until the next lump sum is due.
Other ways to save on your energy bills
For other ways to get help with bills or save on energy costs, take a look at our guides:
You may also like to read our Building Energy Rating (BER) guide, which includes ways to boost your home’s energy rating and save money on bills.
If you’re eligible for Fuel Allowance, you could be eligible for a free home energy upgrade from the SEAI. They’ll cover the cost of things like solar panels or attic insulation, which will make your home warmer and save you money in the long run.
Switch to a cheaper tariff
You could save up to €791 by switching to a cheaper gas & electricity tariff which could make a huge difference to your household bills.
If you haven’t switched in the last 12 months, then it’s even more likely that you could make some big savings.
The Government Electricity Credit, due in November and January will continue if you switch. Your new supplier will apply your electricity credit automatically, so you won’t lose out.
Switch and save up to €791 on your energy bills
It only takes a few minutes to find a cheaper deal and start saving
