Minister announces expansion of Fuel Allowance scheme

Those on ESS can count it for Allowance qualifying period.

An expansion of the Fuel Allowance to Employment Support Scheme (ESS) participants has been announced today.

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys confirmed this morning that for the upcoming Fuel Allowance season, the period a person spends on an ESS including Community Employment, Tús and the Rural Social Scheme will count towards the qualifying period for Fuel Allowance purposes.

The measure, she adds, “will benefit those that leave a qualifying social welfare payment to engage in an ESS”. Meanwhile, those who move onto a qualifying social welfare payment for Fuel Allowance, following completion of an ESS will also be able to use the period spent on the ESS to satisfy the payment period requirement for Fuel Allowance.

The 2024/25 Fuel Allowance season begins on September 23 2024; the payment is made at the weekly rate of €33 for 28 weeks; and only one allowance is paid per household.

Minister Humphreys added: “I absolutely recognise the vital role that CE, Tús and Rural Social Scheme workers play in local communities right across the country. They support a range of vital local services in areas such as childcare, meals on wheels, the maintenance and upkeep of local amenities and sports facilities and other valuable work in our communities.

“Taking part on these programmes is good for people’s physical and mental health and it helps set them on the road to getting back into employment. These workers do wonderful work in our communities and I am delighted to make this change today to support them.”