The government’s new expanded fuel allowance scheme has now opened for applications.
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, today (December 5) announced the news, which is expected to benefit over 80,000 additional households qualifying for payment for the first time.
Currently, over 370,000 households receive a Fuel Allowance payment of €33 per week.
As part of this expansion, a new Over 70s Means Test for Fuel Allowance is being introduced. Under this:
- A single person over 70 can have income of €500 per week and a couple can have income of €1,000 per week.
- People over 70 will no longer need to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to be eligible for Fuel Allowance.
- 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.
- Under this, the first €50,000 in savings and investments will now be completely disregarded in the means test.
Minister Humphreys commented and said, “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.
“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.”
The Minister has also announced the expansion of the standard Under 70s Fuel Allowance Scheme.
From 2nd of January 2023, the weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 will be increased by €80 per week, from €120 to €200 above the appropriate weekly rate of State Pension Contributory.
Payments from Disablement Benefit and Half Rate Carers payments will no longer be included in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance for applicants who are both under and over 70 years.
The easiest and quickest way to apply for Fuel Allowance is via the new Online Application System at MyWelfare.ie.
The minister continued: “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.
“Applying online is the quickest and easiest way to apply. However, if you cannot apply online an application form is available on www.gov.ie/fuelallowance or by contacting 081 820 0400. A shorter version of the form will be available for over 70s in the next two weeks.”
The new system is available for applications from today (December 5) and all changes are expected to take effect from January 2nd, 2023.