Operational Guidelines: Fuel Allowance Scheme

Purpose of the Fuel Allowance Scheme

The Fuel Allowance Scheme was introduced in 1988. The aim of the scheme is to assist qualified households in receipt of certain social welfare payments (and those over the age of 66 not in receipt of a social welfare payment but subject to a means test (see section B)) with their heating costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full.

Administration

The Fuel Allowance is an administrative (non-statutory) scheme. Decisions in relation to applications for the scheme are made based on these Internal Guidelines. Applications for Fuel Allowance are processed in the area with responsibility for the primary social welfare payment as follows:

Rate of payment

The rate of Fuel Allowance is €33.00 per week, or €924 annually for the 2024/2025 fuel season. It is paid with the applicant’s primary social welfare payment, if applicable, or as a standalone payment if there is no other social welfare scheme in payment.

The allowance can be paid weekly or in 2 instalments. The first instalment is paid at the start of the fuel season in September and the second at the midway point (January). The department reserves the right to refuse the instalment option to claimants in circumstances it deems appropriate.

Please note: The instalment option is not available to participants of Employment Support Schemes - Rural Social Scheme, Tús and Community Employment, as these payments are not made directly by the department. Neither is it available to recipients of Supplementary Welfare Allowance, as this is a short-term scheme.

Duration of the scheme

The 2024/2025 fuel season commences on Monday 23 September 2024. The season is intended to last for 28 weeks. Any change to this intention will be notified separately.

Qualifying Conditions Aged Under 66

To qualify for a Fuel Allowance aged under 66, a person must be:

A. Legally resident in the State and the person mainly responsible for the heating costs of the household.

AND

B. In receipt of one of the following qualifying payments:

• Jobseeker's Allowance (greater than 312 days)*
• Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) greater than 364 days/12 months*
• Farm Assist
• One Parent Family Payment
• Jobseeker’s Allowance Transition
• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance
• Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
• Disability Allowance
• Invalidity Pension
• State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory or Non Contributory)
• Incapacity Supplement under the Disablement Pension Scheme
• Death Benefit Pension (previously known as Type 15) under Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• Revenue Job Assist
• Social Security Payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement (of which there is an Irish equivalent payment).
• This includes those on casual Jobseeker’s Allowance greater than 312 days. Days of unemployment on Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) count towards the 312 days if the JB or PUP claim was immediately before the award of Jobseeker’s Allowance. Periods spent on Basic SWA may also be included in certain circumstances see Basic SWA not Pending a Primary DSP Payment for details.

Basic SWA is paid on a 7-day week basis, therefore 12 months payment is reached at 364 days.

Please Note:

i)Social Welfare Benefits (with the exception of Death Benefit and Disablement Benefit) are disqualifying payments for Fuel Allowance (Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit, Parents Benefit, Occupational Injuries Benefit or Maternity Benefit). If a person is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and a benefit then Fuel Allowance is not paid.

ii) Working Family Payment (WFP) is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance. However, if a person is in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment and WFP they may be entitled to the allowance.

AND

C. Satisfy the Household Composition criteria

Live alone or only with:

• a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the QA is in receipt of half rate Carer’s Allowance, in addition to the IQA payment, they may qualify for Fuel Allowance, subject to a means test)

OR

• a person in receipt of a qualifying payment listed at B above and who would be entitled to the Fuel Allowance in their own right (Please note that the contributory payments listed at B above are qualifying payments subject to satisfying a means test);

OR

• a person who is in receipt of Carer’s Benefit in respect of providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant or the applicant’s qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren).

OR

• a person receiving short term Jobseeker's Allowance or Basic SWA (if not pending award of a social welfare payment).

OR

• a person aged 66 or over, subject to a means test, (this person does not need to be in receipt of a qualifying payment);

OR

• a person renting a room under the prescribed conditions that allow the Fuel Allowance applicant to benefit from the rent-a-room disregard. (The prescribed conditions to benefit from the rent-a-room disregard can be found in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims. Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No 10) (Income Disregard) Regulation 2022 (SI 397/22) and Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 1) (Income Disregard) Regulations 2024 (SI 37/24));

OR

• a person who has been provided with accommodation in the Fuel Allowance applicant’s own home and for whom the Fuel Allowance applicant is receiving payments for under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme.

AND

D. Be unable to provide for their heating needs from the resources of their household. A person applying for Fuel Allowance must satisfy a means test. Recipients of non contributory or assistance payments, other than Carer’s Allowance, are generally accepted as satisfying the means test.

Fuel Allowance is not paid in the following cases:

• Where a person is living with someone in receipt of a payment other than those outlined at B and C above, or is living with a person who is in receipt of SWA pending award of a social welfare payment.
• Where a person is living with someone in receipt of a DSP Employment Support Scheme (for example, CE, Tús, RSS and so on) who does not have an entitlement to Fuel Allowance in their own right. (See section 2.6 (a) for exceptions)

Inability to provide for own heating needs

Fuel Allowance is not paid if a person’s heating needs are provided for in full as part of their accommodation.

The following are examples of cases where heating needs are provided for fully or in part:

• persons who reside in Local Authority accommodation where heating is provided at a subsidised level may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the Fuel Allowance scheme.
• where a person has transferred a land holding to a member of his/her family and is living in a separate household but is provided with heating under a Deed of Assignment; If the provision of heating under a Deed of Assignment is not being adhered to, the person may qualify for Fuel Allowance, if they satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the Fuel Allowance scheme and should apply.
• applicants who have access to their own fuel supply, for example, a turf bank, may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the Fuel Allowance scheme and should apply.

Disablement Benefit

Disablement Benefit is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance purposes. However, from January 2023, it does not prevent an otherwise qualified household from receiving Fuel Allowance. Also from January 2023, for the purposes of deciding Fuel Allowance entitlement, Disablement Benefit should be disregarded for means testing purposes, but the household is subject to all other qualifying conditions being satisfied.

Carer’s Allowance

From the 1st January 2025 Carer’s Allowance will be considered a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance purposes.

Those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance who make a Fuel Application will be required to satisfy the Fuel Allowance means test.

Appendix D of the guidelines outlines the scenarios in which those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance will have to undergo a means test and also the section to which the Fuel Allowance applications should be sent.

Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance

Where a person is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare assistance payment, except when Carer’s Allowance is the qualifying payment, and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance, they are deemed to have satisfied the means test and Fuel Allowance is payable, subject to all other qualifying conditions being satisfied.

From January 2023, half-rate Carer’s Allowance is disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance.

SWA Pending a Primary DSP Payment

A person receiving Basic SWA while awaiting a decision on a claim for another social welfare payment should NOT be paid Fuel Allowance. Fuel Allowance will be awarded, if appropriate, with the primary social welfare payment from the date of receipt of application.

Basic SWA not Pending a Primary DSP Payment

The periods spent in receipt of Basic SWA immediately before a Jobseeker’s Allowance claim can be considered towards the 312 days necessary to qualify for Fuel Allowance in the following circumstances:

• Where the Fuel Allowance applicant has transferred directly to Jobseeker’s Allowance from Basic SWA with a category of sick no benefit (SNB)
• Where the Fuel Allowance applicant has transferred directly to Jobseeker’s Allowance from Basic SWA with a category no-fixed-abode (NFA).

The SNB category is used for people who are temporarily ill or incapacitated and who do not qualify for an illness or disability related payment. NFA cases tend to be those who are homeless and may not qualify for another scheme.

This change is effective from the 15 November 2023

Employment Support Schemes

Participants on the following Department of Social Protection Employment Support Schemes (ESS), Community Employment (CE), Rural Social Scheme (RSS) or Tús can apply for and qualify for Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme. This would mean that at any point while participating on an ESS they may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they satisfy the qualifying conditions.

If the ESS participant was in receipt of a long-term qualifying payment prior to going onto the ESS this will allow them to satisfy the qualifying payment element.

The period a person spends on an ESS can be counted when assessing if a person satisfies the qualifying period criterion for Fuel Allowance purposes. Therefore, claimants who move to an ESS who were previously in receipt of short-term Jobseeker’s Allowance/Basic SWA can accrue entitlement to Fuel Allowance while on the scheme that is, the period spent on the scheme can be used to satisfy the 312/364 CT days requirement.

Those who move onto a qualifying social welfare payment for Fuel Allowance, following completion of an ESS, will also be able to use the period spent on the ESS to satisfy the payment period requirement.

If an ESS participant has no entitlement to Fuel Allowance in their own right but was in receipt of PUP, short-term Jobseeker’s Allowance or Basic SWA immediately prior to commencing the ESS, this does not prevent a household from qualifying for Fuel Allowance.

Where participants of CE, RSS or Tús schemes reside in the same household as an eligible social welfare recipient, it is the social welfare recipient who should apply for Fuel Allowance.

The instalment payment option is not currently available to ESS participants that is, CE, RSS or Tús.

Back to Education Allowance and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

The Fuel Allowance arrangements for Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) participants should remain unchanged from allowances previously paid on their underlying scheme, for example, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker’s Allowance.

BTEA or BTWEA participants may retain their Fuel Allowance payment as a secondary benefit when they move to BTEA or BTWEA but cannot qualify or accrue entitlement where none previously existed.

Where participants reside in the same household as an eligible social welfare recipient, it is the social welfare recipient who should apply for Fuel Allowance.

Where a BTEA or BTWEA participant has an established underlying entitlement to Fuel Allowance but is not in receipt of the allowance because another member of the household is receiving the payment, it is open to the participant to apply for Fuel Allowance if these circumstances change. For example, if the fuel recipient leaves the address, the Fuel Allowance entitlement of the participant can be reviewed, provided the other conditions for Fuel Allowance are met.

Jobseeker's Allowance claimant whose spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant is a participant of a Community Employment Scheme

Following the signing of regulation S.I. No. 128 of 2023, commencing on or after 1 January 2023 an increase for a qualified adult is no longer payable when the spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant of a person who is in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, commences a Community Employment Scheme,

To ensure that Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants in this cohort do not lose their entitlement to, or are not prevented from qualifying for, Fuel Allowance, their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant should be considered a qualified adult for Fuel Allowance purposes in these circumstances. All other qualifying criteria must still be satisfied.

Moving from Jobseeker’s Benefit to Jobseeker’s Allowance

When a person is moving from Jobseeker’s Benefit to Jobseeker’s Allowance (with no break) and the claims link, days of unemployment on Jobseeker’s Benefit count towards satisfying the claim paid days qualification criteria.

Moving from One-Parent Family Payment to Jobseeker’s Allowance Transition

One-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) recipients who move to Jobseeker’s Allowance Transition are entitled to Fuel Allowance regardless of their previous duration on OPFP. They do not have to meet the 312 day waiting period that applies to Jobseeker’s Allowance applicants.

NOTE: Some former OPFP recipients will have built up an entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit. Fuel Allowance is not payable with Jobseeker’s Benefit. Where a person moves from OPFP to Jobseeker’s Benefit, they should be advised that they will not qualify for Fuel Allowance and that it is open to them to apply for JA Transition to retain their Fuel Allowance.

Moving from Carer’s Allowance to Jobseeker’s Allowance

Where a person moves from Carer’s Allowance to Jobseeker’s Allowance, with no break, and the claims link, they satisfy the claim paid days qualification criteria.

A person (who is part of a married couple/cohabitant/civil partner relationship) goes into a nursing home for longer than 13 weeks

In the case where one person (who is part of a married/cohabiting couple, or in a civil partnership) goes into a nursing home for longer than 13 weeks – the assessment for the fuel applicant should be as follows:

The means of the couple should be divided by two and the single disregard should be applied to the calculation.

Written confirmation from the Nursing Home should be received confirming that the person is in the nursing home longer than 13 weeks.

Saver Cases

Fuel Recipient moves to a Nursing Home

If a person in receipt of Fuel Allowance and getting paid for a qualified adult who has no entitlement to a social welfare payment in his/her own right moves into a nursing home on a full-time basis, the Fuel Allowance payment may continue. If the Fuel Allowance recipient’s social welfare payment is being paid directly to an agent or facility to cover nursing home costs, arrangements should be put in place to pay the Fuel allowance directly to the qualified adult.

Urban Fuel Scheme

Prior to 1988, the Urban Fuel Scheme operated by Local Authorities provided automatic entitlement to Fuel Allowance for recipients of State Pension (Non-Contributory), Blind Pension and Widow’s, and Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pensions (Contributory and Non-Contributory), regardless of means, subject to the one allowance per household rule, for residents of their functional areas or Local Authority housing.

Persons who had been in receipt of a Fuel Allowance under the Urban Fuel Scheme but who fail to meet the conditions under the National Fuel Scheme are allowed to retain entitlement provided they continued to satisfy the conditions for the Urban Fuel Scheme. These are known as ‘saver cases’. Such cases are allocated identification codes on the department’s information systems that is, 98 (UFS) or 99 (NFS).

Where a ‘saver case’ no longer satisfies the Urban Fuel Scheme qualifying conditions, the ‘saver’ clause no longer applies and a new application must be made for Fuel Allowance.

Previous Qualified Child in full-time education

Where the Child Support Payment on a fuel applicant’s claim ceases because the previously qualified child has turned 22, Fuel Allowance can remain in payment in cases where the previously qualified child remains in fulltime education and is not in receipt of any disqualifying Social Welfare payment or in employment. This saver clause is subject to all other qualifying conditions for fuel being met.

Other supports

Heating Supplement

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social welfare or HSE payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which they are unable to meet out of household income, that person may apply for a Heating Supplement.

Additional Needs Payments

An Additional Needs Payment is a payment available to a person who has essential expenses that cannot be paid from their weekly income.

SWA Fuel Supplement

A Fuel Supplement may be paid in lieu of the National Fuel Scheme in cases where people have entitlement but are not receiving payment from any other source. This is most commonly used where a person on a qualifying long term social welfare payment moves temporarily to a non-qualifying short-term payment (for example, moving temporarily from long term Jobseeker’s Allowance to Illness Benefit or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (sick no benefit)). Further information on these supports is provided in Appendix B.

Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds

Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds is a payment for people aged 65 who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. It is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance and, therefore, Fuel Allowance is not payable in a household in which a person is receiving this payment.

Training/Educational Courses

A person who transfers from the following long-term disability related schemes: Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension to a recognised training/educational course will now be able to apply for and qualify for Fuel Allowance while participating on the course. Qualification for Fuel Allowance will be subject to satisfying all the relevant qualifying conditions. This would mean that at any point while participating on the course they may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they satisfy the qualifying conditions.

It is imperative that the Deciding Officer awards Fuel Allowance from the eligible date and not the start date of the next fuel season. This will ensure that eligible customers, who also live alone, receive their entitlement to the Telephone Support Allowance from the appropriate date.

Applicants should apply to the office/scheme area responsible for their social welfare payment. See Part 1, Section 1.2 above. Fuel Allowance claims are awarded from date of receipt of the application. Backdating of a claim can be considered where the applicant has demonstrated good cause for the delay in making a claim or where there are extenuating circumstances.

Where a person wishes to have their entitlement to Fuel Allowance assessed, the quickest and easiest way to apply is online at www.mywelfare.ie. This online service is not currently available to those whose primary scheme is administered by Intreo Centres.

For those who cannot access online services, they should apply using the NFS1 form.

NFS1 application forms are also available from Post Offices and Intreo offices.

Who should apply?

Only one allowance is payable per household. In general, where a person aged 66 or over is present in a household, they should be asked to apply for the Fuel Allowance payment to ensure that they can benefit from the enhanced measures for those aged 66 and over.

The qualifying conditions are outlined at Section 2.1 of the Guidelines. In order to establish eligibility for the Fuel Allowance, where there is no member of the household aged 66 years or over, members of the household in receipt of contributory (non-means tested) social welfare payments (for example, State Pension Contributory or Invalidity Pension) should apply in the first instance.

If a person applies for Fuel Allowance and they are living with someone in receipt of a contributory payment, the applicant should be notified, in writing, that their entitlement cannot be established without first undertaking a means test on the income of the other person in their household. Their application can proceed in one of two ways:

i. The other person in the household can apply for Fuel Allowance in their own right and will be subject to a means test as part of that application; or,

ii. The first applicant can provide the necessary details to facilitate the means test on the other member of the household.

If all members of the household are in receipt of means-tested payments, the person mainly responsible for heating of the household should apply for the Fuel Allowance.

Change of circumstances

If a recipient’s circumstances change (for example, change of address, paying office, spouse/partner and/or household composition) his or her entitlement to Fuel Allowance should be reviewed. If new/further information comes to light at any time or as part of a review of a primary social welfare payment, the person’s continuing entitlement to Fuel Allowance should also be reviewed. Fuel Allowance payments should be stopped where entitlement no longer exists.

Where the option to be paid Fuel Allowance in 2 instalments is exercised, the Deciding Officer must check the household composition to ensure that no other member of the household has received payment by instalments for the relevant period.

The department reserves the right to refuse the instalment payment option to claimants in circumstances it deems appropriate.

Reviews

When Fuel Allowance is awarded, a person does not have to re-apply every fuel season. For this reason, it is important that each area of the department includes Fuel Allowance in the list of entitlements that are assessed as part of their on-going control activities. In addition, an annual review of a sample (recommended 5%) of Fuel Allowance recipients should be carried out. Part or this entire Fuel Allowance review sample may be counted towards the overall review of scheme entitlements.

Payment Options

Separate Payments

Where a couple have separated and wish to have their payment (primary payment + increase for a qualified adult) split, the primary customer has entitlement to the Fuel Allowance unless it is requested that it should be paid to their spouse as part of the separate payment. Such requests should be sought in writing and a record kept.

Payment Frequency - Weekly and Instalment options

A person in receipt of, or applying for Fuel Allowance, may opt for a payment frequency of weekly or 2 instalments. Those already in receipt of the Fuel Allowance and who wish to continue on a weekly payment do not need to take any action, as their weekly payment arrangement will continue. Likewise, a person who has opted for the instalment payment frequency does not need to complete a Change the Payment Frequency of Fuel Allowance form (FA CPF 1) for each fuel season to retain the instalment payment arrangement. Once changed the payment frequency will remain unless or until a further FA CPF1 is received.

For customers who received an instalment payment but are deemed, on review, not to have an entitlement to the Fuel Allowance on the date the instalment issued, an overpayment may be raised.

Customers who received an instalment payment and are deemed to have had an entitlement on the date the instalment issued, are not deemed to have been overpaid if their entitlement ceases in the subsequent 14-week period. If entitlement existed on the date of payment, no overpayment will be raised. The department reserves the right to refuse the instalment payment option to claimants in circumstances it deems appropriate.

Change of Payment Frequency Application Process

If a customer is in receipt of Fuel Allowance and wishes to change their payment frequency a Change the Payment Frequency of Fuel Allowance form (FA CPF 1) must be received by the department in advance of the instalment payment issuing.

A customer can apply to change their payment frequency at any stage; however, payment frequency will not change until the next instalment issue date.

'Household' Payments

Fuel Allowance is deemed to be a 'household' payment. Only one allowance is payable per household. Accordingly, if a household receives the instalment payment, then generally that household is deemed to have received their fuel entitlement for that period.

The Deciding Officer must check the household composition to ensure that no member of the household was already paid by instalment for the relevant period. If the household is deemed to have received their Fuel Allowance entitlement, another Fuel Allowance should only be awarded from the start of the next instalment payment period.

The Designated Person making an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme should refer to Appendix B.

Qualified Child

For the purposes of Fuel Allowance, a qualified child is one for whom Child Support Payment is payable, or in the case of an applicant with no primary social welfare scheme, aged under 18 or between the ages of 18 and 22 engaged in full-time education. Proof of full-time education should be obtained before the payment of Fuel Allowance is authorised.

Overpayments

Where an overpayment arises, this may be assessed and recovered in line with the Overpayment Code of Practice and Debt Management procedures.

For customers who received an instalment payment but are deemed, on review, to have had no entitlement to the Fuel Allowance on the date the instalment issued, an overpayment may be raised.

Customers who received an instalment payment and are deemed to have had an entitlement on the date the instalment issued, are not deemed to have been overpaid if their entitlement subsequently ceases within that 14-week period. On the date that the instalment issued the customer was entitled to that payment via their chosen payment method.

The Designated Person making additional Additional Needs Payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme should satisfy themselves regarding instalment payments to the household (see Appendix B).

Appeals

The Fuel Allowance scheme is administrative (non-statutory) and therefore decisions on claims cannot be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Officer. However, if a customer is dissatisfied with a decision not to grant an allowance, a review by a different Deciding Officer may be requested. It is open to applicants to supply any additional facts or information in support of their application. If following this review, the applicant still does not qualify for the allowance, they should be advised of the reason(s) for disallowance and that it is still open to them to contact the Office of the Ombudsman.

A person applying for a Fuel Allowance must satisfy a means test. Qualifying non contributory recipients, other than recipients of Carer’s Allowance, are generally accepted as satisfying the means-test.

Where a person on a contributory payment resides with household members in receipt of non-contributory payments, income from the non-contributory payments is disregarded for the purpose of calculating entitlement to Fuel Allowance.

Capital

Income from capital, for example, property, savings and investments, is included in the mean test.

If an applicant has no other source of means other than capital, they may have capital/savings of up to €82,999 (that is, equivalent to €200.00 a week under capital means assessment rules) in addition to income of up to the appropriate maximum State Pension Contributory rate, and still be eligible to receive a Fuel Allowance - (see Section 4.4 for further details on Means Thresholds).

Formula for Calculating Weekly Means

If you have a second property (property other than your own home), the rental income from that property is assessed. However, the capital value (less any mortgage outstanding on the property) will be assessed if the property is not rented.

Income from employment or self-employment

(a) Income comprising earnings from employment as an employee will be assessed by reference to the weekly average of the gross amount of all such earnings.

(b) Income from any form of self-employment, will be assessed by reference to the weekly amount of such income calculated or estimated by dividing the income in the last complete income tax year by 52.

Other Income

Income from any other source (including rent or any other periodical payment receivable for the possession and use of property in all lands, tenements and hereditaments), will be assessed by reference to the normal weekly amount of such income.

Income from qualifying State Contributory payments (such as State Contributory Pension, Invalidity Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension) should also be included (less any disregarded allowances, namely Increase for over 80 years, Increase for Living Alone, Child Support Payment and Increase for Living on a Specified Island), and will be assessed by reference to the normal weekly amount of such income.

Means Thresholds

An applicant and members of the household may have a combined assessable income of up to €200.00 a week above the appropriate maximum State Pension (Contributory) rate. The following assessable means thresholds apply:

Means Threshold From 1st January 2025

• Where the applicant in this scenario is disallowed due to means exceeding €748.70 but is within the over 66 income threshold of €1,048.00, the applicant should be advised to have their spouse/partner apply for the enhanced over 66 Fuel Allowance using the NFS2.

Disregarded Increases for Fuel Allowance

• increase for over 80 years
• increase for Living Alone
• Child Support Payment
• increase for Living on a Specified Island

Please note: If yearly income is available weekly income should be calculated by dividing by 52. Similarly, if monthly income is available, weekly income should be calculated by multiplying by 12 and dividing by 52.

Income Disregards for the purposes of entitlement to Fuel Allowance

Income from the following sources is disregarded for the purpose of calculating entitlement to Fuel Allowance.

• Disablement Benefit
• Carer’s Allowance (Including half-rate Carer’s Allowance)
• Child Benefit
• Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
• Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
• Fostering Allowance
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Blind Welfare Allowance
• Mobility Allowance
• Magdalen Commission Scheme payment
• All non-contributory payments.
• rehabilitation and training allowance (max 20 hours per week) once this work has been approved as work of a rehabilitative nature by the department
• all supplements (Diet, Rent, Heating, Travel) paid under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme
• Carer’s Benefit payment of the person providing full-time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, the applicant’s qualified spouse, civil partner or cohabitant or qualified child(ren)
• from 4 June 2024, any maintenance received in respect of a child will no longer be assessed as means for Fuel Allowance purposes
• ex gratia payments made under the scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries suffered at the Stardust, Artane on 14 February 1981
• compensation awards to people who have contracted Hepatitis C from contaminated blood products, together with income from the investment of that money
• compensation awards to people under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, together with income from the investment of that money
• the Rent-A-Room means disregard applies to Fuel Allowance applicants who rent out a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded. The prescribed conditions to benefit from the rent-a-room disregard can be found in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims. Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No 10) (Income Disregard) Regulation 2022 (SI 397/22) and Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 1) (Income Disregard) Regulations 2024 (SI 37/24).

Please note: From 1 February 2024:

• the Fuel Allowance household composition criteria do not apply to household members renting a room within the property for which the rental income is disregarded.
• when the rental income is disregarded, the income and means of the household members renting a room is also disregarded.
• Payments received under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme

Please note: From 1 February 2024

• the Fuel Allowance household composition criteria do not apply to household members residing there under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme.
• the income and means of those residing with the Fuel Allowance applicant and for whom they are receiving payments under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme are also disregarded.

ENDS (Under 66 Fuel Allowance Operational Guidelines)

National Fuel Scheme Section

January 2025

The countries covered by either EU Regulations or a Bilateral Agreement are:

Heating Supplement and Additional Needs Payments – Note for Information

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social welfare payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which cannot be met out of household income, that person may apply for a Heating Supplement.

There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. Heating Supplements are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. Decisions on applications for a Heating Supplement are determined by the local Community Welfare Service staff.

In addition, the department may make an Additional Needs Payment(ANP) to help meet essential expenses which a person cannot pay from their weekly income.

ANPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment or predetermined amounts under the different categories for Additional Needs Payments.

A Fuel Supplement may be paid in lieu of the National Fuel Scheme in cases where people have entitlement but are not receiving payment from any other source. This is most commonly used where a person has been in receipt of a qualifying long-term Department of Social Protection payment moves temporarily to a non-qualifying short-term payment (for example, moving temporarily from long term Jobseeker’s Allowance to Illness Benefit or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (sick no benefit)).

A Fuel Supplement is not appropriate where a person may have entitlement to Fuel Allowance on their primary payment or in cases where there is another member of the household receiving Fuel Allowance. Payment of a SWA Fuel Supplement is made at the rate of the Fuel Allowance and is limited to the period covered by the Fuel Allowance season. Decisions on applications for a Fuel Supplement are determined by local Community Welfare Service staff.

How to apply

For first time Fuel Allowance applications - the quickest and easiest way to apply for Fuel Allowance is online at www.mywelfare.ie.

For those who cannot access the online service, click here for the link to download form NFS1 application form.

For change of payment frequency - click here for the link to download form FA CPF1 (for a claim already in payment).

Aged Under 66

Single Adult Household (Aged Under 66)

Fuel applicant and spouse / civil partner / cohabitant only (Aged Under 66)

Carer’s Allowance Recipient and Non-Spousal Household Members (Aged Under 66)

• Return to main Fuel Allowance Scheme page.

Purpose of the Fuel Allowance Scheme

The Fuel Allowance Scheme was introduced in 1988. The aim of the scheme is to assist qualified households in receipt of certain social welfare payments (and those over the age of 66 not in receipt of a qualifying payment but subject to a means test) with their heating costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full.

As part of the welfare Budget 2025 package, from 1 January 2025, the enhanced Fuel Allowance qualifying measures will be available to those aged 66 or older.

From 1 January 2025, the means threshold for those aged 66 or older is €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple.

Those aged over 66, or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are no longer required to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment but must satisfy a means test. Only the means of the applicant and, if applicable, their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are included when assessing means for Fuel Allowance.

Any additional person in the household other than the applicant and their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant will have to satisfy the household composition criteria.

Administration

Fuel Allowance is an administrative (non-statutory) scheme. Decisions in relation to applications for the scheme are made based on these Internal Guidelines.

Fuel Allowance application forms for those aged 66 or over should be addressed to appropriate section.

Rate of payment

The rate of Fuel Allowance is €33.00 per week, or €924.00 annually for the 2024/2025 fuel season. Currently, Fuel Allowance is payable for 28 weeks. It is paid with the applicant’s primary social welfare payment, if applicable, or as a standalone payment if there is no other social welfare scheme in payment.

The allowance can be paid weekly or in 2 instalments – the first at the start of the fuel season in September and the second at the midway point (January). The department reserves the right to refuse the instalment payment option to claimants in circumstances it deems appropriate.

Duration of the scheme

The 2024/2025 fuel season commences on week beginning Monday, 23 September 2024. The season is intended to last for 28 weeks. Any change to this intention will be notified separately.

Qualifying Conditions

To qualify for the aged over 66 Fuel Allowance, a person must be:

A. Legally resident in the State and the person mainly responsible for the heating costs of the household.

AND

B. Aged 66 or over at the time of application.

AND

C. Live alone or only with:

• spouse, civil partner or cohabitant*, or qualified child(ren) ;
• there is no household composition requirement for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a person aged 66 years or over. The only requirement is that their weekly means, if any, are included in the means assessment. In addition to normal means factors, this could also include income from employment, or a social welfare benefit or contributory payment.

OR

• a person aged 66 or over, (this person does not need to be in receipt of a qualifying payment);

OR

• a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the Fuel Allowance in their own right (See Appendix C for list of qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance purposes.);

OR

• a person who is in receipt of Carer’s Benefit in respect of providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant or the applicant’s qualified spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, or qualified child(ren).

OR

• a person receiving short term Jobseeker's Allowance or Basic SWA.

OR

• a person renting a room under the prescribed conditions that allow the Fuel Allowance applicant to benefit from the rent-a-room disregard. (The prescribed conditions to benefit from the rent-a-room disregard can be found in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims. Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No 10) (Income Disregard) Regulation 2022 (SI 397/22) and Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 1) (Income Disregard) Regulations 2024 (SI 37/24));

OR

• a person who has been provided with accommodation in the Fuel Allowance applicant’s own home and for whom the Fuel Allowance applicant is receiving payments for under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme.

AND

D. Be unable to provide for their heating needs from the resources of their household. A person applying for Fuel Allowance must satisfy a means test. Recipients of non contributory or assistance payments, other than recipients of Carer’s Allowance, are generally accepted as satisfying the means test.

Fuel Allowance is not paid in the following cases:

• where a person is living with someone other than in the circumstances outlined at B and C above, or is living with a person who is in receipt of SWA pending award of a social welfare payment.
• where a person is living with someone in receipt of a DSP Employment Support Scheme (for example, CE, Tús, RSS and so on) who immediately prior to going on the ESS was not in receipt of a qualifying or disregarded payment for Fuel Allowance purposes.

Inability to provide for own heating needs

Fuel Allowance is not paid if a person’s heating needs are provided for in full as part of their accommodation.

The following are examples of cases where heating needs are provided for fully or in part:

• persons who reside in Local Authority accommodation where heating is provided at a subsidised level may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the Fuel Allowance scheme.
• where a person has transferred a land holding to a member of his or her family and is living in a separate household but is provided with heating under a Deed of Assignment; If the provision of heating under a Deed of Assignment is not being adhered to, the person may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the Fuel Allowance scheme and should apply.
• applicants who have access to their own fuel supply, for example, a turf bank, may qualify for Fuel Allowance if they satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the Fuel Allowance scheme and should apply.

Half-rate Carer’s Allowance and Disablement Benefit

From 2 January 2023, half-rate Carer’s Allowance and Disablement Benefit payments will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance. Disablement Benefit will also no longer preclude a household from qualifying for Fuel Allowance.

Nursing Home Arrangements

A person (who is part of a married couple/cohabitant/civil partner relationship) goes into a nursing home for longer than 13 weeks

In the case where one person (who is part of a married/cohabiting couple, or in a civil partnership) goes into a nursing home for longer than 13 weeks – the assessment for the fuel applicant should be as follows:

The means of the couple should be divided by two and the single disregard should be applied to the calculation.

Written confirmation from the Nursing Home should be received confirming that the person is in the nursing home longer than 13 weeks.

Saver Cases

Fuel Recipient moves to a Nursing Home

If a person is in receipt of Fuel Allowance, and getting paid for a qualified adult who has no entitlement to a social welfare payment in his or her own right, moves into a nursing home on a full-time basis, the Fuel Allowance payment may continue. If the Fuel Allowance recipient’s social welfare payment is being paid directly to an agent or facility to cover nursing home costs, arrangements should be put in place to pay the Fuel Allowance directly to the qualified adult.

Urban Fuel Scheme

Prior to 1988, the Urban Fuel Scheme operated by Local Authorities provided automatic entitlement to Fuel Allowance for recipients of State Pension (Non-Contributory), Blind Pension and Widow’s, and Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pensions (Contributory and Non-Contributory), regardless of means, subject to the one allowance per household rule, for residents of their functional areas or Local Authority housing.

Persons who had been in receipt of a Fuel Allowance under the Urban Fuel Scheme but who fail to meet the conditions under the National Fuel Scheme are allowed to retain entitlement provided they continued to satisfy the conditions for the Urban Fuel Scheme. These are known as ‘saver cases’. Such cases are allocated identification codes on the department’s information systems that is, 98 (UFS) or 99 (NFS).

Where a ‘saver case’ no longer satisfies the Urban Fuel Scheme qualifying conditions, the ‘saver’ clause no longer applies and a new application must be made for Fuel Allowance.

Previous qualified child in full-time education

Where the Child Support Payment on a fuel applicant’s claim ceases because the previously qualified child has turned 22, Fuel Allowance can remain in payment in cases where the previously qualified child remains in fulltime education and is not in receipt of any disqualifying Social Welfare payment or in employment. This saver clause is subject to all other qualifying conditions for fuel being met.

Other supports

Heating Supplement

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social welfare or HSE payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which s/he is unable to meet out of household income, that person may apply for a Heating Supplement.

Additional Needs Payments

An Additional Needs Payment is a payment available to a person who has essential expenses that cannot be paid from their weekly income.

SWA Fuel Supplement

A Fuel Supplement may be paid in lieu of the National Fuel Scheme in cases where people have entitlement but are not receiving payment from any other source. This is most commonly used where a person on a qualifying long term social welfare payment moves temporarily to a non-qualifying short-term payment (for example, moving temporarily from long term Jobseeker’s Allowance to Illness Benefit or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (sick no benefit). Further information on these supports is provided in Appendix B.

Over 66 recipients of Fuel Allowance – continuation of entitlement to end of Fuel Allowance season where one member of the couple passes away

Where the Fuel Allowance recipient is 66 years or over and is part of a married couple/cohabiting/civil partner relationship, and either member of the couple passes away during the Fuel Allowance season, arrangements should be made to continue payment of the Fuel Allowance to the surviving member of the couple until the end of that Fuel Allowance season, regardless of the individual means of that surviving member of the couple.

Where the surviving member of the couple is staying on the same scheme, or is eligible for a scheme with which Fuel Allowance is paid, then the Fuel Allowance should be paid with that scheme until the end of the current Fuel Allowance season. Where the surviving member of the couple is not moving to a scheme with which Fuel Allowance is paid, then the scheme area should make arrangements with National Fuel Scheme (NFS) area to set up a NFS claim for this customer until the end of that Fuel Allowance season.

The surviving member of the couple should, if appropriate, be advised to apply for Fuel Allowance in the normal manner from the beginning of the following Fuel Allowance season.

Claims

It is imperative that the Deciding Officer awards Fuel Allowance from the eligible date and not the start date of the next fuel season. This will ensure that eligible customers, who also live alone, receive their entitlement to the Telephone Support Allowance from the appropriate date.

Fuel Allowance claims are awarded from date of receipt of the application. Backdating of a claim can be considered where the applicant has demonstrated good cause for the delay in making a claim or where there are extenuating circumstances.

Where a person wishes to have their entitlement to Fuel Allowance assessed, the quickest and easiest way to apply is online at www.mywelfare.ie.

For those who cannot access online services they should apply using the NFS2 form. Fuel Allowance application forms for those aged 66 or over should be addressed to the appropriate section as outlined on page 8 of the application form.

Application forms are also available from Post Offices and Intreo Centres.

Who should apply?

Only one allowance is payable per household. To apply for the aged Over 66 Fuel Allowance an applicant must be aged 66 or over.

In general, where a person aged 66 or over is present in a household, they should be asked to apply for the Fuel Allowance payment to ensure that they can benefit from the enhanced measures for those aged 66 and over. Where a person aged 66 or over wishes to nominate another household member to apply for and receive the Fuel Allowance payment, the Deciding Officer may allow this in circumstances they deem appropriate.

Change of circumstances

If a recipient’s circumstances change (for example, change of address, paying office, spouse/partner and/or household composition) his or her entitlement to Fuel Allowance should be reviewed. If new or further information comes to light at any time or as part of a review of a primary social welfare payment, the person’s continuing entitlement to Fuel Allowance should also be reviewed. Fuel Allowance payments should be stopped where entitlement no longer exists.

Where the option to be paid Fuel Allowance in 2 instalments is exercised, the Deciding Officer must check the household composition to ensure that no other member of the household has received payment by instalment for the relevant period.

The department reserves the right to refuse the instalment payment option to claimants in circumstances it deems appropriate.

Reviews

When Fuel Allowance is awarded, a person does not have to re-apply every fuel season. For this reason, it is important that each area of the department includes Fuel Allowance in the list of entitlements that are assessed as part of their on-going control activities. In addition, an annual review of a sample (recommended 5%) of Fuel Allowance recipients should be carried out. Part or this entire Fuel Allowance review sample may be counted towards the overall review of scheme entitlements.

Payment Options

Separate Payments

Where a couple have separated and wish to have their payment (primary payment + increase for a qualified adult) split, the primary customer has entitlement to the Fuel Allowance unless it is requested that it should be paid to their spouse as part of the separate payment. Such requests should be sought in writing and a record kept.

Payment Frequency - Weekly and Instalment options

A person in receipt of, or applying for Fuel Allowance, may opt for a payment frequency of weekly or 2 instalments. Those already in receipt of the Fuel Allowance and who wish to continue on a weekly payment do not need to take any action, as their weekly payment arrangement will continue. Likewise, a person who has opted for the 2 instalment payment frequency does not need to complete a Change the Payment Frequency of Fuel Allowance form (FA CPF 1) for each fuel season to retain the instalment payment arrangement. Once changed the payment frequency will remain unless or until a further FA CPF1 is received.

For customers who received an instalment payment but are deemed, on review, not to have an entitlement to the Fuel Allowance on the date the instalment issued, an overpayment may be raised.

Customers who received an instalment payment and are deemed to have had an entitlement on the date the instalment issued, are not deemed to have been overpaid if their entitlement ceases in the subsequent 14-week period. If entitlement existed on the date of payment, no overpayment will be raised. The department reserves the right to refuse the instalment payment option to claimants in circumstances it deems appropriate.

Change of Payment Frequency Application Process

If a customer is in receipt of Fuel Allowance and wishes to change their payment frequency a Change the Payment Frequency of Fuel Allowance form (FA CPF 1) must be received by the department in advance of the instalment payment issuing.

A customer can apply to change their payment frequency at any stage; however, payment frequency will not change until the next instalment issue date.

'Household' Payments

Fuel Allowance is deemed to be a 'household' payment. Accordingly, if a household receives the instalment payment, then, generally, that household is deemed to have received their fuel entitlement for that period.

The Deciding Officer must check the household composition to ensure that no member of the household was already paid by instalment for the relevant period. If the household is deemed to have received their Fuel Allowance entitlement, another Fuel Allowance should only be awarded from the start of the next instalment payment period.

The Designated Person making Additional Needs Payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme should pay particular attention to this a (see Appendix A).

Qualified Child

For the purposes of Fuel Allowance, a qualified child is one for whom Child Support Payment is payable, or in the case of an applicant with no primary social welfare scheme, aged under 18 or between the ages of 18 and 22 engaged in full-time education. Proof of full-time education should be obtained before the payment of Fuel Allowance is authorised.

Overpayments

Where an overpayment arises, this may be assessed and recovered in line with the Overpayment Code of Practice and Debt Management procedures.

For customers who received an instalment payment but are deemed, on review, to have had no entitlement to the Fuel Allowance on the date the instalment issued, an overpayment may be raised.

Customers who received an instalment payment and are deemed to have had an entitlement on the date the instalment issued, are not deemed to have been overpaid if their entitlement subsequently ceases within that 14-week period. On the date that the instalment issued the customer was entitled to that payment via their chosen payment method.

The Designated Person making Additional Needs Payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme should satisfy themselves regarding instalment payments to the household (see Appendix A).

Appeals

The Fuel Allowance scheme is administrative (non-statutory) and therefore decisions on claims cannot be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Officer. However, if a customer is dissatisfied with a decision not to grant an allowance, a review by a different Deciding Officer may be requested. It is open to applicants to supply any additional facts or information in support of their application. If following this review, the applicant still does not qualify for the allowance, they should be advised of the reason(s) for disallowance and that it is still open to them to contact the office of the Ombudsman.

Fuel Allowance operates as part of an overall system of social protection supports which provides assistance payments based on a system of means testing. The means test ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

A person applying for a Fuel Allowance must satisfy a means test. Qualifying non contributory recipients, other than recipients of Carer’s Allowance, are generally accepted as satisfying the means-test.

The means test takes account of the income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property - other than the family home - and capital.

For those who apply and are aged 66 or over, only the means of the applicant and, if applicable, their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. However, the normal household composition criteria applies.

Capital

Income from capital, for example, property, savings and investments, is included in the mean test. The capital means assessment rules are as follows:

Formula for Calculating Weekly Means

If you have a second property (property other than your own home), the rental income from that property is assessed. However, the capital value (less any mortgage outstanding on the property) will be assessed if the property is not rented.

Income from employment or self-employment

(a) Income comprising earnings from employment as an employee will be assessed by reference to the weekly average of the gross amount of all such earnings.

(b) Income from any form of self-employment will be assessed by reference to the weekly amount of such income calculated or estimated by dividing the income in the last complete income tax year by 52.

Other Income

(a) Income from any other source (including rent or any other periodical payment receivable for the possession and use of property in all lands, tenements and hereditaments) will be assessed by reference to the normal weekly amount of such income.

Income from qualifying State Contributory payments (such as State Contributory Pension, Invalidity Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension) should also be included (less any disregarded allowances, namely Increase for over 80 years, Increase for Living Alone, Child Support Payment and Increase for Living on a Specified Island), and will be assessed by reference to the normal weekly amount of such income.

Means Thresholds

An applicant who is single may have means of up to €524 a week. An applicant and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant may have means of up to €1,048 a week.

Means Thresholds from 1st January 2025

Disregarded Increases for Fuel Allowance

• Increase for over 80 years
• Increase for Living Alone
• Child Support Payment
• Increase for Living on a Specified Island

Please note: If yearly income is available weekly income should be calculated by dividing by 52. Similarly, if monthly income is available, weekly income should be calculated by multiplying by 12 and dividing by 52.

Income Disregards for the purposes of entitlement to Fuel Allowance

Income from the following sources is disregarded for the purpose of calculating entitlement to Fuel Allowance.

• Disablement Benefit
• Carer’s Allowance (including half-rate Carer’s Allowance)
• Child Benefit
• Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
• Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
• Fostering Allowance
• Domiciliary Care Allowance
• Blind Welfare Allowance
• Mobility Allowance
• Magdalen Commission Scheme payment
• All non-contributory payments
• Rehabilitation and training allowance (max 20 hours per week) once this work has been approved as work of a rehabilitative nature by the department.
• All supplements (Diet, Rent, Heating, Travel) paid under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.
• Carer’s Benefit payment of the person providing full-time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, the applicant’s qualified spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, or qualified child(ren).
• From the 4 June 2024, any maintenance received in respect of a child will no longer be assessed as means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
• Ex gratia payments made under the scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries suffered at the Stardust, Artane on 14 February 1981.
• Compensation awards to people who have contracted Hepatitis C from contaminated blood products, together with income from the investment of that money.
• Compensation awards to people under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, together with income from the investment of that money.
• The Rent-A-Room means disregard applies to Fuel Allowance applicants who rent a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded. The prescribed conditions to benefit from the rent-a-room disregard can be found in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims. Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No 10) (Income Disregard) Regulation 2022 (SI 397/22) and Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 1) (Income Disregard) Regulations 2024 (SI 37/24).

Please note: From 1 February 2024:

• The Fuel Allowance household composition criteria do not apply to household members renting a room within the property for which the rental income is disregarded.
• For those who apply and are aged 66 or over, only the means of the applicant and, if applicable, their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes, therefore the income and means of the household members renting a room is disregarded.
• Payments received under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme

Please note: From 1 February 2024

• The Fuel Allowance household composition criteria do not apply to household members residing there under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme.
• For those who apply and are aged 66 or over, only the means of the applicant and, if applicable, their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes, therefore the income and means of the household members residing there under the Accommodation Recognition Scheme is disregarded.

ENDS (Over 66 Fuel Allowance Operational Guidelines)

National Fuel Scheme Section

January 2025

Heating Supplement and Additional Needs Payments – Note for Information

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social welfare payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which he/she is unable to meet out of household income, that person may apply for a Heating Supplement.

There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. Heating Supplements are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. Decisions on applications for a Heating Supplement are determined by the local Community Welfare Service staff.

In addition, the department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenses which a person cannot pay from their weekly income.

ENPs are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment or predetermined amounts under the different categories for Additional Needs Payments.

A Fuel Supplement may be paid in lieu of the National Fuel Scheme in cases where people have entitlement but are not receiving payment from any other source. This is most commonly used where a person has been in receipt of a qualifying long-term Department of Social Protection payment moves temporarily to a non-qualifying short-term payment (for example, moving temporarily from long term Jobseeker’s Allowance to Illness Benefit or Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (sick no benefit)).

A Fuel Supplement is not appropriate where a person may have entitlement to the National Fuel Scheme on their primary payment or in cases where there is another member of the household receiving payment under the National Fuel Scheme. Payment of a SWA Fuel Supplement is made at the rate of the Fuel Allowance and is limited to the period covered by the National Fuel Scheme. Decisions on applications for a Fuel Supplement are determined by local Community Welfare Service staff.

Please note: The instalment payment frequency option is not available to Fuel Allowance recipients in receipt of Supplementary Welfare Allowance as this is a short-term scheme.

List of qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance

• Jobseeker's Allowance (greater than 312 days)*
• Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (BASI) greater than 364 days/12 months*
• Farm Assist
• One Parent Family Payment
• Jobseeker’s Allowance Transition
• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance
• Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
• Disability Allowance
• Invalidity Pension
• State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
• State Pension Transition (closed to new entrants since 2014)
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory or Non Contributory)
• Incapacity Supplement under the Disablement Pension Scheme
• Death Benefit Pension (previously known as Type 15) under Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• Revenue Job Assist
• Social Security Payment from a country covered by EU Regulations or a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement (of which there is an Irish equivalent payment).
• This includes those on casual Jobseeker’s Allowance greater than 312 days. Days of unemployment on Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) count towards the 312 days if the JB or PUP claim was immediately before the award of Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Basic SWA is paid on a 7-day week basis, therefore 12 months payment is reached at 364 days.

How to apply

For first time Fuel Allowance applications - the quickest and easiest way to apply for Fuel Allowance is online at www.mywelfare.ie.

For those who cannot access the online service, click here for the link to download form NFS2 – O66 application form.

For change of payment frequency - click here for the link to download form FA CPF1 (for a claim already in payment).)

• Return to main Fuel Allowance Scheme page.