Minister Doherty announces start of new Fuel Allowance Season for families

Is your family entitled to fuel allowance?

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s Fuel Allowance 2019 / 2020 season will begin today, Monday September 30. The weekly rate of the Fuel Allowance will be €22.50 while the value of the lump sum payment that will be paid to the householders who have opted for this payment is €315, which will be paid next week also. Overall, in excess of 370,000 households will benefit from the Fuel Allowance payment with some 60,000 of these receiving their allowance via lump sum. The estimated expenditure for the 2019/2020 fuel season is approximately €240 million. Speaking about the start of this year's fuel allowance Minister Doherty said;

“With the fuel season starting next week, the Fuel Allowance will be paid to thousands of households depending on welfare payments. This is an important support for many low-income urban and rural households for whom the cost of heating oil, electricity or solid fuel can be quite stressful. Because of its valuable assistance to so many people, in the last Budget, I ensured that the allowance was increased by an extra week to 28 weeks.”

The allowance aims to help families on low incomes to afford to keep their homes warm throughout the cold autumn and winter months. Fuel Allowance of €22.50 per week will be paid per household and is not intended to meet the entire cost, but to provide assistance. Customers who have not previously received the payment can apply by contacting their local Intreo Centre or from the office which handles their scheme payment at 01 7043000.