Minister Humphreys launches start of New Fuel Season

Fuel Allowance to be paid for 28 weeks to some 370,000 households

Record budget of €292 million being paid out with weekly or lump sum payment options available

Customers who received the allowance last year to be paid automatically

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced the start of the National Fuel Scheme for the 2021/2022 Season.

The Fuel Allowance, which is a means-assessed payment, will be paid for 28 weeks to an estimated 370,000 households across the State.

A budget of €292 million has been set aside for the upcoming season with the Department providing two options of payment.

Recipients are paid weekly rate of €28 or, if they prefer, by way of two lump sum payments of €392 each.

The first weekly payments will issue from this week in addition to recipients’ normal weekly social welfare payments.

In formally launching the 2021/2022 Fuel Season, Minister Humphreys said:

The Minister added:

Customers who wish to apply for Fuel Allowance must complete the Fuel Allowance application form (NFS1) which is available through the Department’s Intreo Centres, Post Offices or on the Department’s website Item was unpublished or removed and return it to their scheme area. One Fuel Allowance is paid per household.

Customers who received the payment last year do not need to apply again but will instead receive the payment automatically provided they retain an entitlement to the payment.

As well as receiving the payment in weekly instalments, customers can elect to receive Fuel Allowance in two lump sum payments. The first lump sum payment of €392 will issue this week (27th September) and the second will issue the week of 3rd January 2022.

Further information

A person who is receiving a Natural Gas or Electricity Allowance under the Department of Social Protection’s Household Benefits Package, and who uses gas or electricity for their heating, may be entitled to the Fuel Allowance.

A person may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they are getting one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection:

• State Pension (Contributory) or State Pension (Non- Contributory),
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) or (Non-Contributory) Pension,
• Incapacity Supplement,
• Blind Pension,
• Invalidity Pension,
• Disability Allowance,
• Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance,
• One-Parent Family Payment,
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory and Non-Contributory),
• Farm Assist,
• Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance,
• Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

A person may be entitled to the Fuel Allowance if they are getting one of the following payments from the Health Service Executive:

• Disabled Person's Rehabilitation Allowance,
• Infectious Diseases Maintenance Allowance,
• a social security payment from another country,
• a special Department of Defence Allowance,

or

If they are taking part in an employment or educational scheme and they are entitled to keep their secondary benefits,

and

• they are normally living in the State,
• are living alone or only with:
• a qualified spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or qualified children*,
• other people getting one of the qualifying payments who would also qualify for Fuel Allowance in their own right,
• a person who is providing full-time care and attention if the applicant has a disability or long-term illness,
• a person getting short-term Jobseeker’s Allowance, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or Basis Supplementary Welfare Allowance,

and

• the applicant and other members of their household are unable to pay for the heating needs from their own resources. To meet this condition, the household must satisfy a means test.
• A qualified child is under age 18 or aged 18 to 22 if in full-time education. If a child turns 18 while in full-time education and the applicant for the Fuel Allowance is getting Jobseeker’s Allowance (for less than 15 months), Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit or Supplementary Welfare Allowance, they will remain a qualified child only until they finish full-time education or until the following 30 June, whichever is earlier.

Full information on the Fuel Allowance is available on the Item was unpublished or removed

County Breakdown of Fuel Allowance paid in 2020/2021 fuel season

• Approximately 11,000 customers on TUS, RSS and CE Schemes received the Fuel Allowance - county breakdowns are not available for these.