Cost of living Ireland: When will the last Fuel Allowance lump sum be paid in 2024

While the first lump sum payment for recipients of the Fuel Allowance has already been paid, it was confirmed that there is another one on the way before the end of the year

Recipients of the Fuel Allowance payment are in line for a second lump sum payment before the end of the year.

The social welfare scheme is normally worth €924 in total and it can be given in two lump sums or via €33 per week for 28 weeks.

However, it was recently confirmed that people receiving the payments will also be getting another lump sum worth €300 before 2024 closes.

Read more: Social welfare Ireland: Three groups of recipients removed from October’s double payment

Read more: Cost of living Ireland: Workers entitled to new €450 payment as start date confirmed

As part of the Budget 2025 cost of living measures, the once-off payment will be sent out in the week beginning 4 November 2024.

To get Fuel Allowance you must:

• Live alone (or only with certain people listed below)
• Be getting a qualifying payment (unless you are 70 or over)
• Satisfy a means test

You must also live in Ireland. You cannot get Fuel Allowance if your heating costs are provided in full as part of your accommodation.

Who can I live with?

To get Fuel Allowance, you must live alone, or with:

• A spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who qualifies for an increase on your pension or social welfare payment, or is getting a qualifying payment in their own right
• Dependent children
• A person who gets Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit, and who is caring for you or for your spouse, partner or cohabitant, or for a qualified child dependant on a full-time basis
• A person getting short-term Jobseeker's Allowance (less than 312 days) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (less than 364 days)
• A person getting a qualifying payment (for example, long-term Jobseeker’s Allowance) and who would be eligible for a Fuel Allowance in their own right
• A person aged 70 or over
• A person renting a room from you, where this doesn’t affect your entitlement to Fuel Allowance
• A person you provide accommodation to in your own home, and for whom you get the Accommodation Recognition Payment

There are certain exceptions that can be found here.

Qualifying social welfare payments and pensions

If you are 70 or over, you don’t need a qualifying payment to qualify for Fuel Allowance.

Social welfare payments are either based on your PRSI contributions (social insurance payments) or means-tested social assistance payments.

Qualifying social insurance payments

• State Pension (Contributory)
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
• Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme
• Invalidity Pension
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory)
• Death Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme
• A pension or benefit 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)

Qualifying social assistance payments

• State Pension (Non-Contributory)
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Blind Pension
• Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
• One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)
• Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory)
• Farm Assist
• Jobseeker's Transitional payment (JST)

There are several other schemes that can be found here.

How your income is assessed for Fuel Allowance?

Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment. This means that the Department of Social Protection (DSP) examines all your sources of income. Your gross weekly income must be below a certain amount to pass the means test.

You are usually accepted as passing the means test for Fuel Allowance, if you are getting a qualifying social assistance (means-tested) payment.

If you get a means-tested payment, you have already satisfied the means test and it does not need to be done again.

You can find more information here.

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