Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months.
You can get it if you are getting long-term social welfare payments (see the full list below).
The current rate of payment is €33 every week from September until April 2023.
Only one Fuel Allowance is paid to each household.
This year (2022), Fuel Allowance started to be paid from Monday 26 September 2022.
If you are getting Fuel Allowance, then you will get your first payment on your usual payment day during this week. This includes both the weekly and lump sum fuel payments.
If you are getting a means-tested payment, such as the State Pension (Non-contributory), this means you have already satisfied the means test.
You must also meet all other conditions, such as those related to your living situation, to qualify.
If you are not getting a means-tested payment and are getting a payment based on your social insurance record, for example the State Pension (Contributory), you will need to satisfy a means test and all other qualifying conditions.
You may qualify for a Fuel Allowance if you are getting any of the following payments:
- Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (if qualified)
- Blind Pension
- Death Benefit Pension under Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
- Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Farm Assist
- Guardian's Payment (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
- Incapacity Supplement under the Disablement Pension Scheme
- Invalidity Pension
- Jobseeker’s Allowance Transition
- Jobseeker's Allowance (if qualified)
- One Parent Family Payment
- Revenue Job Assist
- Social Security Payment (of which there is an Irish equivalent payment) from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement
- State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory or Non Contributory)
You may qualify for a Fuel Allowance if you live alone or only with:
- a dependent adult or dependent child
- a person getting a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance but is not currently in receipt of same (note: only one Fuel Allowance is paid to each household)
- a person who is getting Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and is caring for you or for your dependent adult or dependent child
- a person getting short term Jobseeker's Allowance or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance
If the adult you live with gets half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well as the increase for a dependent adult, then Fuel Allowance may be paid subject to a means test.
The weekly rate of payment is currently €33, usually payable from September to April.
People getting certain social welfare payments can get their Fuel Allowance paid in two lump sums. The first lump sum is normally paid in late September and the second payment is in January.
To get your Fuel Allowance paid in two lump sums, fill in the application form to Change the Payment Frequency at the bottom of this page at least a month before the first lump sum is due.
Please note the lump sum option is not available on all schemes.
This form is also available from:
If you are not getting a social welfare payment, your Fuel Allowance can be paid directly into your account in a financial institution or you can collect the allowance at your local post office.
If this is your first time applying for Fuel Allowance, you need to fill in the Fuel Allowance Scheme application form at the bottom of this page. You can also get this form from your local post office.
Please apply before the start of the Fuel Allowance season (late September). If you apply after this, the department cannot backdate your allowance.
You do not need to reapply for the Fuel Allowance each year as long as your circumstances remain the same and you continue to get the same social welfare payment. If your circumstances change you should contact the department as soon as possible to make sure you can still get Fuel Allowance.
Where you send your application for Fuel Allowance depends on the social welfare payment you are receiving.
If you receive one of the following payments:
- Invalidity Pension
- Disability Allowance
- Incapacity Supplement
- Death Benefit
Please send your completed Fuel Allowance Scheme application form and supporting documents to:
Social Welfare Services Office (Longford)
Address:
Department of Social Protection, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Co Longford
Phone number:
If you receive one of the following payments:
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-contributory) Pension
- Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
- State Pension (Contributory or Non-contributory)
- Blind Pension
- Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
- Guardian's Payment (Non-contributory)
Please send your completed Fuel Allowance Scheme application form and supporting documents to:
Social Welfare Services (Sligo)
Address:
Department of Social Protection, College Road, Co Sligo
Phone number:
If you receive one of the following payments:
- Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance (12 months)
- Farm Assist
- One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker's Transitional Payment
Please send your completed Fuel Allowance Scheme application form and supporting documents to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
If you receive Long-term Supplementary Welfare Allowance (12 months), please send your completed Fuel Allowance Scheme application form and supporting documents to the department's representative at your local Intreo Centre (used to be called the Community Welfare Officer).
If you receive a social security payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement (provided there is an equivalent Irish payment), please send your completed Fuel Allowance Scheme application form and supporting documents to:
Household Benefits Section (Fuel Allowance)
Address:
Department of Social Protection, College Road, Co Sligo, F91 T384
Phone number:
Application Form: Fuel Allowance under the National Fuel Scheme (NFS1)
Application form for Fuel Allowance under the National Fuel Scheme.
Download
Application Form: Change the Payment Frequency of Fuel Allowance (FA CPF1)
Edition: September 2021
DownloadYou can receive your payment at any bank or post office of your choice, direct to your current or deposit account by completing the following form.
Application Form: Direct Payment to an Account in a Financial Institution (DIR PMT1)
Edition: May 2022
DownloadOperational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
