THOUSANDS of social welfare recipients will see one major payment come to an end – as the €132 Fuel Allowance boost will be stopped.
As the days become warmer, it’s expected households will be less reliant on using their home heating.
This social welfare payment aims to help with the cost of heating your home during colder months – but it is only paid to one person in a household.
The Fuel Allowance season usually starts in late September and runs for 28 weeks until the following April.
The final date for the €33 weekly payment has been confirmed for April 4, 2025.
The current rate of Fuel Allowance is €33 weekly for 28 weeks, totalling €132 a month.
The fuel cash was paid out in two instalments of €462 to a total of €924 – one in September and one in January.
The 400,000 households already in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also be handed a €300 lump sum to help with fuel costs.
People on the Carer’s Allowance were made eligible for the Fuel Allowance, providing they meet the Fuel Allowance criteria.
Currently if you are under 66 you can still qualify for the payment you just must meet certain criteria.
One of these criteria is a means test which looks at your income.
You will usually qualify for the payment if you are already receiving a social assistance means tested payment.
On top of passing the means test, you must either live on your own or with a spouse, dependent children, someone receiving Carers Benefit or Carers Allowance or someone receiving short term Jobseeker’s Allowance or Supplementary Welfare allowance.
Separately, a new social welfare reform will see people in Ireland eligible to apply for a new payment worth up to €450 in just days.
The Pay-Related Benefit is a reform to the Jobseeker’s Benefit that will allow “enhanced benefits” for those entitled to the cash.
The payment is designed to be a “safety net” for those with a long work and PRSI contribution history who find themselves fully unemployed.
It will be available for people who become fully unemployed on or after the March 31, 2025.
The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 allowed for these changes to be brought in by then Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys during the budget.
