Mayo households get extra €125 Fuel Allowance payments

A TOTAL of 13,918 households across Mayo are set to receive the €125 once-off Fuel Allowance payment from today, Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has confirmed.

Deputy Dillon commented: “I’m acutely conscious that the rising cost of living is causing considerable concern for families.

“This once-off payment is part of a wider package of measures, totalling €505 million, agreed by government last month in order to make things a little easier for families.

“The package also included a €200 reduction in people’s energy bills, which is coming into effect this month, as well as changes that will benefit people in receipt of the Working Family Payment.”

He added: “Government also responded last week by cutting excise duty on petrol and diesel, which has become the source of considerable concern for motorists in recent months.”

The fuel allowance, which is a means-tested payment, is paid to 372,000 pensioners, widows, widowers, jobseekers, lone-parents and people with disabilities.

The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33, or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments, and is paid over the winter season. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually. .

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys also announced a reduction in the qualifying period for Jobseeker’s and Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients from 15 to 12 months to take effect from September 2022. Through these additional measures it is estimated that some 400,000 households will benefit from the Fuel Allowance in 2022.