Minister Calleary announces expansion of Fuel Allowance to 50,000 Working Families

• Eligibility for Fuel Allowance extended to Working Family Payment recipients
• 50,000 additional households to receive Fuel Allowance payments from next week, backdated to January
• Over 470,000 households now supported by the Fuel Allowance

The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has today announced an additional 50,000 families will receive Fuel Allowance payments from next week.

Budget 2026 provided for the extension of the Fuel Allowance payment to Working Family Payment recipients.

The measure comes into effect next week and will be backdated to January. This means that 50,000 additional households will now receive the Fuel Allowance.

The newly eligible families will receive backdated payments of up to €380 on Thursday, 12th March, together with their weekly Working Family Payment.

From January 2026, the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance was increased by €5 a week to €38, giving a total per recipient of €1,064 each year.

As a result of today’s announcement, over 470,000 households are now being supported by the Fuel Allowance.

Commenting on the Fuel Allowance expansion, Minister Calleary said:

“An additional 50,000 working families are now eligible for the Fuel Allowance. This means that hardworking families across the country on lower incomes will receive additional help with their energy bills. I am delighted to have introduced this important expansion as part of my first budget.

“The Fuel Allowance plays a vital role in supporting families with their heating costs over the winter months. The expansion I am announcing today means there are over 470,000 households now receiving this valuable support.

“This is a targeted, practical intervention that will help working families manage energy costs and reduce financial pressure during the winter months, and it reflects a broader commitment: to ensure that work is rewarded, that families are supported, and that no child grows up in poverty.”

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €38 per week for 28 weeks from late September to April. The purpose of this payment is to assist households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household. Further details on the Fuel Allowance are available at www.gov.ie/FuelAllowance.

The Working Family Payment is an income assessed payment that provides a financial top-up for employees, with children, with low earnings. It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports low-income working families. Almost two thirds of Working Family Payment recipients are single adult households. From January 2026, the Working Family Payment income thresholds were increased by €60 per week for all family sizes. Families who were receiving the Working Family Payment (WFP) between 1st January 2026 and 11th March 2026, but are no longer in receipt of WFP, will still receive Fuel Allowance arrears if they are eligible for the period they were in receipt of WFP. Further details on the Working Family Payment are available at www.gov.ie/WFP.