The cost of heating your house increases dramatically when winter rolls around.
People will be forking over hundreds, some even paying thousands, to keep warm during the chillier months in Ireland.
To help you with this burden, the government has confirmed five cost of living supports that people can apply for.
Read more: The three most expensive devices wasting energy in your home - and it’s not a tumble dryer
Energy credits
It was outlined that all domestic electricity customers will get €450 off their electricity bills. The energy credit will be paid in 3 instalments of €150.
The first payment will be made in December 2023, the second will be made in January 2024 and the third will be made in March 2024.
To be considered eligible for the electricity credits, you must be registered as either of the following, or you won’t get the credit:
An urban domestic customer (classified as DG1)
A rural domestic customers (classified as DG2)
The credit applies to every domestic electricity account, which means that if you have multiple homes in Ireland with a domestic electricity account you get the credit for each account.
It also doesn’t matter if you have a pre-pay meter as your supplier will contact you by text, email or on your top-up note to tell you the credit has been applied to your account.
You can find out more about these here.
Additional Needs Payment
The Additional Needs Payment aims to help people with an expense that they cannot pay from their weekly income.
There is no set amount people can receive as it instead depends on your circumstances and the type of help you need.
You can get the Additional Needs Payment for:
An increase in your fuel or electricity costs
Essential repairs to property, including motor vehicles and replacing household appliances and furniture
Funeral costs
Deposits for private rented accommodation
Bedding and cooking utensils, if you are setting up home for the first time
Food, clothing and shelter after an emergency event such as a fire or flood
Recurring travel costs to hospital
Visiting a relative in hospital or prison
This is not a complete list, other expenses can be covered too
You can learn more about this payment here.
Fuel Allowance
To receive a Fuel Allowance, people must meet the criteria set out by the scheme, which includes living alone, living in Ireland and getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments.
People will also receive a once-off payment of €300 to in the week beginning 20 November 2023.
You can learn more about this payment here.
Household Benefits Package
To get the Household Benefits Package (HBP), you must:
Be living in Ireland (full-time, all year round)
Be the only person in your household getting the HBP
Have the electricity or gas bill in your name (if you are applying for an Electricity or Gas Allowance)
Be aged 70 or over
Be aged under 70 and meet the additional rules for ‘People aged under 70’
For people under the age of 70 and living with their spouse, cohabitant or civil partner, you can get the HBP if you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment and:
You are getting an increase in your qualifying social welfare payment for them or
They are getting their own qualifying social welfare payment or
They are getting a social welfare payment not listed here and they satisfy a means test.
To find out more about the qualifying social welfare payments, click here.
Grants for a home energy upgrade
You could qualify for a grant to upgrade your home energy system and improve the BER rating of your home. This will lower the amount of electricity or gas that you use.
To qualify for a grant you must:
Be the owner of a property built and occupied before 2011 for insulation, heating control systems and renewable systems grants
Have a home with a BER of B3 or lower before the work
Reach a BER of at least B2 after the work and have a BER improvement of 100kWh/m2 per year
Not have already used grants for the same energy upgrades
Use an SEAI registered company (One Stop Shop) to manage the process, work and applications
You can find out more about this payment here.
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