Approximately 48,000 families across the country will become eligible for another social welfare payment next month.

In Budget 2026, the Government confirmed that the Working Family Payment will become a qualifying payment for the Fuel Allowance from March 2026. This will be backdated to January 2026.

The Working Family Payment is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children. It supports people who are on low pay.

The Fuel Allowance runs for 28 weeks every year and helps households with their energy bills. Approximately 460,000 households qualify for the Fuel Allowance.

The scheme is paid in either 28 weekly instalments or two lump sum payments. The rate of Fuel Allowance was previously €33 per week but from January it rose by €5 to €38 per week.

This year’s Fuel Allowance season began on September 22. After running for 28 weeks, it will end during the week beginning April 6th.

Here’s everything else you need to know about the payment:

To qualify for the Fuel Allowance you must:Be over 66 or overBe under 66 and get a qualifying social welfare payment (see qualifying payments below)Live alone (or only with certain people listed below)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.

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 rightDependent childrenA person who gets 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 basisA 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 rightA person aged 66 or overA person renting a room from you, where this doesn’t affect your entitlement to Fuel AllowanceA person you provide accommodation to in your own home, and for whom you get the Accommodation Recognition Payment

Only one Fuel Allowance payment is paid to a household. If someone in the household is 66 or over, they should apply.

If more than one person in the household is getting a social assistance payment, you can decide who applies for Fuel Allowance.

If someone in the household is getting a qualifying social insurance payment, such as State Pension (Contributory) or Invalidity Pension, they should apply first (so a means test can be carried out on their income). Another qualifying person in the household can also apply for Fuel Allowance, but they must include information about the person getting a social insurance payment.

How to apply for the Fuel Allowance

If you apply for Fuel Allowance after the start of the Fuel Allowance season, it will not be backdated.

You do not need to reapply for Fuel Allowance each year as long as, your circumstances remain the same and you continue to get the same social welfare payment.

You can apply for the Fuel Allowance online. You must have a MyGovID account to apply online. If you can’t apply online, you can use a paper application form

If you are aged under 66 , fill in the NFS1 form to apply for fuel allowance. If you are aged 66 or over , fill in the NFS2 form to apply for fuel allowance.

You can also get a form from your local post office or by phoning 0818 200 400. You should ask for the relevant form for your age. You can get help to fill in your application form at your Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office or Citizens Information Centre.

You can find out all the details here.

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