The national Fuel Allowance Scheme for 2022/2023 has begun and will be paid for 28 weeks to over 371,000 households across the State. Payment will be made at the weekly rate of €33 or if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments.
Cavan Monaghan Minister, Heather Humphreys, secured a €400 additional lump sum payment which will be paid to all households in receipt of Fuel Allowance the week commencing the 14th of November.
In addition, the Minister secured funding to expand the Scheme which will include an additional 81,000 households with a new means test taking effect for the over 70s from January. Minister Humphreys added that the Fuel Allowance plays a vital role in supporting hundreds of thousands of households with their heating costs over the winter months.
"In order to ease the pressure and stress that many households are currently facing, an additional €400 lump sum cost-of-living payment will be made to all households in receipt of Fuel Allowance in mid-November. This will bring the total value of the Fuel Allowance to €1,324 per household," she continued.
"I am very conscious that older people are particularly vulnerable to the cold, however many pensioners currently fall just outside the income thresholds to qualify for Fuel Allowance. For that reason, I am introducing a new Over 70s Means Test for Fuel Allowance from January. Under this, a single person can have income of €500 per week and a couple can have income of €1,000 per week and still qualify for Fuel Allowance.
"Broadening the eligibility of the Fuel Allowance to include more older people was a priority for me in the Budget and my department is now working on developing the necessary IT systems and application forms so that people Over 70 will be able to benefit from these changes from January.
"We have also increased the weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 by €80 per week. Combined it is estimated these changes will bring an extra 81,000 households into the Fuel Allowance Scheme which represents the largest ever expansion of the Scheme. As part of the Budget, I secured approval for a range of other lump sum payments to support our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, and working families and I will be setting."
