Fuel Allowance being paid to customers from this week - Hanafin

The Government is supporting people with fuel bills by providing over €400milion this year, said the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin T.D. Some 334,000 long-term social welfare recipients are this week set to receive additional weekly payments under the Department of Social and Family Affairs Fuel Allowance scheme. Almost €220million is being spent on this scheme alone in the coming months.

Minister Hanafin said “we recognise the additional pressures there are on people dependent on social welfare payments during the winter months.

The Government extended the payment this year by 2 weeks to 32 weeks and also increased the weekly rate by €2 to €20 per week. Customers will see this additional amount in this week’s payment and it will continue until the end of April.”

The weekly rates payable are €20 (Fuel Allowance) and €23.90 in Smokeless Fuel areas. The additional Smokeless Fuel Allowance is payable only to eligible customers living in designated Smokeless Fuel Areas. The vast majority of people eligible are state pensioners, widows and people with disabilities, who are more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather.

The Fuel Allowance can also be paid alongside the Household Benefits package which provides support for people over 66 years of age and certain other people under that age who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or fulfil a means test. The Household Benefits package includes the electricity allowance or the gas allowance. The annual value of the schemes is approx €500 per household. Expenditure in 2009 on ESB/gas allowance is expected to be in excess of €200million.

“This year some 335,000 people will receive the electricity allowance while 38,000 people will opt for the payment towards their gas usage costs. Taken together over €420million is being spent on the Fuel Allowance and the electricity/gas schemes to provide support to some of the most vulnerable over the winter months” said Minister Hanafin