4,780 Cork Families Among 50,000 to Receive Fuel Allowance from Next Week

50,000 households across Ireland will begin receiving Fuel Allowance payments from next week, following an expansion announced today by the Minister for Social Protection. Among those set to benefit are 4,780 Cork families.

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary TD announced on Wednesday, 4 March 2026 that the Fuel Allowance will be extended to recipients of the Working Family Payment, a measure introduced as part of Budget 2026.

The extension takes effect next week, with payments backdated to January. Newly eligible households will receive backdated payments of up to €380 on Thursday, 12 March, paid alongside their weekly Working Family Payment.

The Fuel Allowance is paid at a rate of €38 per week for 28 weeks, running from late September to April each year, giving eligible households a total of €1,064 annually. The weekly rate was increased by €5 from January 2026.

With the expansion now in effect, over 470,000 households nationally are supported by the scheme.

The Working Family Payment is an income-assessed payment for employees with children on lower earnings. Almost two thirds of recipients are single adult households. Families who were in receipt of the Working Family Payment between 1 January 2026 and 11 March 2026 but are no longer receiving it will still be entitled to arrears for the period they were eligible.

Minister Calleary said:

"An additional 50,000 working families are now eligible for the Fuel Allowance. This means that hardworking families across the country on lower incomes will receive additional help with their energy bills. I am delighted to have introduced this important expansion as part of my first budget.

The Fuel Allowance plays a vital role in supporting families with their heating costs over the winter months. The expansion I am announcing today means there are over 470,000 households now receiving this valuable support.

"This is a targeted, practical intervention that will help working families manage energy costs and reduce financial pressure during the winter months, and it reflects a broader commitment: to ensure that work is rewarded, that families are supported, and that no child grows up in poverty."

Further information on the Fuel Allowance is available at www.gov.ie/FuelAllowance, and details on the Working Family Payment can be found at www.gov.ie/WFP.