Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
1570. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the exact criteria applicable to an under 66 fuel allowance application; the current means test limit for such an application, and if this has been recently increased. [1572/26]
View answerThe criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance, a person aged under 66 must satisfy all the relevant qualifying criteria including a means test, the household composition criteria and be in receipt of a qualifying payment. The full list of qualifying conditions can be found on [gov.ie].
The allowable means for those aged 66 is as follows:
|
Week Commencing |
Single Person under 66 years |
Couple, where the qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant is under 66 years |
Couple, where the qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant is over 66 years |
|
01/01/2026 |
€499.30 (€200 + €299.30) |
€698.70 (€200 + €299.30 + €199.40) |
€767.70 (€200 + €299.30 + €268.40) |
For those aged under 66, an applicant and members of the household may have a combined assessable income of up to €200.00 a week above the appropriate maximum State Pension Contributory rate. Therefore, the allowable means for those aged under 66 automatically increased in January 2026 in line with the recent increases to the State Pension Contributory rate.
While to qualify for Fuel Allowance a household must satisfy a means test, in the case of households where all members are receiving qualifying non-contributory payments other than Carers Allowance, then the means test is deemed satisfied.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
