Over 400,000 households across the country that are qualified for the 2024 Fuel Allowance will receive a lump sum payment this week.
It is among four lump-sum supports, announced in Budget 2025, worth around €415 million which will be paid this week to help with cost of living.
667,000 families will also receive double child benefit payments, 213,000 people will be issued a €400 disability support payment and a €400 lump sum working family payment will be paid to 46,000 households.
The Department of Social Protection People will receive the lump sum payments in addition to and on the same day that they usually receive their primary payment.
All the lump sum and double payments are automatically paid, meaning that people do not need to apply for them.
Announcing the details, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said: “The payments being paid this week will be followed by five further lump sum payments over the coming weeks, including a €400 Carer’s Support Payment, a second double child benefit payment, and the Christmas bonus payments in early December.
“This suite of lump sum payments means that people will have extra money in their pockets, which will ease the pressure and stress that many households are facing.”
Fuel Allowance
Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating a person’s home during the winter months and is only paid to one person in a household.
Those aged 70 or over or getting certain long-term social welfare payments are eligible for the payment.
The 2024/2025 Fuel Allowance season started on Monday, September 23, 2024 and will be paid for 28 weeks until 4 April 4, 2025.
The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 per week and recipients can choose to get the allowance paid every week or in two instalments.
As part of Budget 2025, it was confirmed that the means test disregard for the payment for people aged 66 and over will be €524 for a single person and €1,048 for a couple, applicable from January 2025.
Carer’s Allowance will also become a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance from next January.