Supports · Ireland

Fuel Allowance calculator 2026–27

The Fuel Allowance season started on 28 September 2026. Check whether you pass the means test, using the official limits, including the higher limit for over-66s from January 2027.

You and your household
Income and savings
Official rules: Citizens Information: Fuel Allowance (limits, what counts, capital, rates, Budget 2027 changes), read 3 November 2026. The 2027 couple limits are not yet published, so the current ones are used; the 2027 under-66 single limit follows the official rule (State Pension €309.30 + €200). The Department decides each claim. General information, not advice. Who qualifies, how to apply and why to apply now (it is not backdated): our Fuel Allowance guide.

Fuel Allowance

€38 a week
€1,134 for the 2026/27 season
Your weekly means€299.30
Limit for you€534.00
You may qualify. Apply online at MyWelfare.ie, or with form NFS2 (66 or over).

Who you can live with

To get Fuel Allowance you must live alone, or only with: a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who is a dependant on your payment or gets a qualifying payment; dependent children; someone getting Carer’s Benefit who cares for you; someone on short-term Jobseeker’s Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance; an immediate family member getting the Working Family Payment; someone aged 66 or over; or a person renting a room from you. Only one person per household is paid.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Fuel Allowance in 2026–27?
€38 a week from the week of 28 September 2026, rising to €43 from the week of 4 January 2027 (Budget 2027), for 28 weeks. Paid as lump sums, that is €532 in September and €602 in January: €1,134 for the season.

What is the income limit for Fuel Allowance?
If you are 66 or over: €534 a week for a single person (rising to €640.8 from January 2027) or €1,068 for a couple. Under 66, you must already get a qualifying payment, and your means must be under the maximum State Pension plus €200: €499.3 for a single person in 2026.

What income is not counted?
Social assistance (non-contributory) payments, Carer’s Allowance, Disablement Benefit and maintenance for a child are not counted. Savings under €20,000 (under 66) or €50,000 (66 or over) are ignored, and you can rent a room for up to €14,000 a year without affecting it.

Who can I live with?
You must live alone or only with certain people: for example a spouse or partner who is a dependant on your payment or gets a qualifying payment, dependent children, or someone getting the Working Family Payment. Only one person in a household can get it.

Do I get it automatically with the Working Family Payment?
Since January 2026, getting the Working Family Payment means you meet the Fuel Allowance means test, and it is paid automatically if nobody else in the home already gets it.

Related

Compare two scenarios

Snapshot your current numbers, change any input, then snapshot again to see the difference side by side.

No scenarios saved yet — enter your numbers above, then click Save as A.

Related calculators

Health

Chronic Illness Annual Cost Calculator

Beyond copays — medications, lost work, lifestyle changes.

 Later Life

Aging Parent Care Financial Planner

In-home care, assisted living, memory care, and caregiver career impact.

Related guides

Later Life

State Pension Age & Amount: 6-Country Comparison (2026)

When you can claim a public pension and how much you get in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland.

9 min read Later Life

Nursing Home vs Assisted Living vs Home Care: 2026 Costs

State-by-state data from Genworth 2023. What Medicare covers, what it doesn't, and the caregiver career impact.

9 min read Health

Hidden Financial Cost of Chronic Illness: Beyond Copays

Presenteeism, dietary changes, and transportation add $5,000–$20,000/yr on top of direct medical costs.

7 min read
Calculated in your browser: your numbers are never sent to us Figures from official sources Methodology · Not financial advice · Report an error