Thousands in Meath to receive ‘vital’ support with rising energy costs
The Fuel Allowance for the 2025/26 season has officially begun, with almost 13,000 households across Meath set to receive payments this week.
Meath East TD and Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee welcomed the commencement of the payment for 12,856 families across the county.
“This payment is vital in supporting hundreds of thousands of families across the country with their heating costs over the winter months, and has been expanded this year to include,” Ms McEntee said on social media.
Paid for 28 weeks, the Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment available to over 410,000 households across Ireland. Payments are made at a weekly rate of €33 or, for convenience, as two lump sums of €462 each.
Households already receiving a qualifying social welfare payment do not need to reapply if their circumstances have not changed.
This year, eligibility for the Fuel Allowance has been expanded to reach even more households. The qualifying conditions for those over 66 have been enhanced, income limits have been increased, capital disregard thresholds have been raised, and Carer’s Allowance is now included as a qualifying payment.
These changes aim to ensure that more people in Meath and across the country can access this crucial winter support.
Fine Gael Senator Linda Nelson Murray urged eligible households in Meath to apply for the Fuel Allowance through MyWelfare.ie.
She said: “I would also like to acknowledge the work carried out by my colleague Heather Humphreys in her role as Social Protection Minister in increasing the Fuel Allowance allocations for those in Meath.”
“Heather consistently champions measures to protect the most vulnerable and helping families, including expanding the fuel allowance and increasing eligibility so that more households in Meath could benefit, showing that she would make an excellent President of Ireland.”
The Meath West Senator added: “As the winter season begins, I will continue to work with Government to ensure that supports such as the Fuel Allowance are strengthened for people in Meath particularly due to rising energy costs.”