Thousands more people over 70 in Ireland will be eligible for the Department of Social Protection’s Fuel Allowance Scheme to drastically help with the cost of heating bills this winter.
Minister Heather Humphreys recently announced that her Department has expanded the income limits to qualify for the scheme to support the largest-ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme. It remains a means-tested payment, and is paid at a weekly rate of €33 or if preferred, in two lump sum payments – and only one fuel allowance is payable per household.
Currently, over 370,000 Irish households receive the Fuel Allowance payment, and if you fo qualify, it is paid on the same day as your social welfare payment. It is now anticipated as many as 80,000 extra people will be able to meet criteria to get this support.
As part of the expansion to the scheme, a new Over 70s Means test is being introduced, opening the scheme up to people who previously would not have qualified.
Here’s what you need to know about the scheme and how to apply.
Additionally, Minister Humphreys is also more than doubling the amount of capital (your savings and investments) that are discarded in the means assessment for the Fuel Allowance for people aged over 70.
Minister Humphreys also this month announced the expansion of the standard Under 70s Fuel Allowance Scheme:
From 2 January 2023:
How can I qualify for Fuel Allowance?
To be eligible for Fuel Allowance you must be living alone (or with certain people listed below), living in Ireland and be in receipt one of the following qualifying payments:
If you are participating in certain schemes including Back to Work Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA), Rural Social Scheme, Tús or Community Employment and are entitled to keep your secondary benefits, you must live alone or only with:
As the government outlined earlier this month on its website: “In the case of a couple where one person is over 70 and one is under 70, they will be assessed under the Over 70s Means Test criteria.
“In addition, Minister Humphreys is also more than doubling the amount of savings that are disregarded in the means assessment for the Fuel Allowance payment for people aged over 70.”
Minister for Social Protection Ms Humphries, speaking about the new scheme to help those over 70, said she did not want older people to be wary of turning on their heating as the cost of living crisis continues to make life difficult for many.
“As Minister, the one thing I do not want to see is any old person afraid to turn on their heating.
“Our senior citizens have worked hard all their lives; they have put in their shift and I want to make sure they can live in comfort,” the Minister said.
“That’s why I am introducing this new Over 70s Fuel Allowance scheme, which will ensure tens of thousands more older people will now qualify for the payment.
She added: “My department has developed a new user-friendly online application that will be open for applications from today. I strongly encourage those who think they may now be eligible for the payment to apply online via MyWelfare.ie”.
If you cannot apply online, you can access an application form to be printed, which is available on www.gov.ie/fuelallowance, or by contacting 081 820 0400. A shorter version of the application form for over 70s is expected to be made available as soon as possible to help facilitate applications.