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The Fuel Allowance, worth almost €1,000 every year, will return this month for over 400,000 households.
The social welfare scheme helps households with the cost of energy bills and is paid from September to April every year. It is paid in either 28 weekly instalments of €33 or two lump sum payments of €462.
The Department of Social Protection has confirmed that the 2025/26 Fuel Allowance season will begin on the week beginning Monday, 22 September 2025. Those who opt to receive the payment in two instalments of €462 will be paid their first lump sum during that week. The second instalment will be paid in January.
Here’s everything you need to know about the scheme, including who is eligible and how to apply:
To qualify for the Fuel Allowance you must: Be over 66 or over Be 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 right Dependent children A 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 basis A 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 right A person aged 66 or over A person renting a room from you, where this doesn’t affect your entitlement to Fuel Allowance A 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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