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Thursday, October 30, 2008
Help with heating costs
Q: What social welfare support is there to help with heating costs in the winter?
A: The National Fuel Scheme, operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, is intended to help people who are dependent on long-term social welfare or Health Service Executive (HSE) payments as their sole income and who are unable to meet their heating needs.
The Fuel Allowance is a weekly payment of €18. If you qualify for the basic Fuel Allowance, you may also qualify for an extra €3.90 per week for smokeless fuel if you live in an area where there is a ban on smoky coal. The Smokeless Fuel Allowance may also be payable to those who do not qualify for the basic Fuel Allowance if they are receiving Illness Benefit, Occupational Injury Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit/Allowance for at least three months, or receiving Family Income Supplement.
If you are already on a means-tested social welfare payment you will not be subject to another means test for the Fuel Allowance.
The Fuel Allowance means test requires that you and the members of your household do not have more than €100 per week in combined income, or savings/capital of €58,000 or more above the appropriate maximum benefit/assistance rate for your household.
For example, someone without any savings receiving a Widow’s or Widower’s (Contributory) Pension of €203.30 per week should qualify if his/her weekly income does not exceed €203.30 plus €100, that is €303.30.
Where two or more people living in the same household qualify for the allowance, only one allowance is paid. The allowance is paid for 30 weeks from the end of September to mid-April.
If you think you are eligible, you should apply immediately as the allowance will not be backdated. Application forms (NFS1) are available at your post office or your local Social Welfare Office or by telephone on
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