{"id":23227,"date":"2021-09-27T08:59:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T12:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23227"},"modified":"2021-09-27T11:03:41","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T15:03:41","slug":"almost-350-million-reserved-for-national-fuel-scheme-this-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23227","title":{"rendered":"Almost $350 Million Reserved For National Fuel Scheme This Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Almost $350 million (\u20ac300 million) have been allocated for the national fuel scheme this winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The means-assessed payment will be paid for 28 weeks to an estimated 370,000 households across the State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys announced the budget of $342 million (\u20ac292 million), with her department providing two options of payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recipients are paid a weekly rate of $33 (\u20ac28) or, if they prefer, by way of two lump sum payments of $459 (\u20ac392) each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first weekly payments will be issued from this week in addition to recipients\u2019 normal weekly social welfare payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Humphreys said it would play a \u201cvital role in assisting tens of thousands of households with their heating costs over the winter months\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt acts as a financial aid for people living in low-income households to help towards the cost of the likes of electricity and heating oil,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn recognition of its importance to so many families, I increased the weekly rate of payment by \u20ac3.50 in my first Budget as Social Protection Minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am conscious that heating costs are a concern for many and that households have seen their bills increase and return to 2019 levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis will be an important factor for me as minister as I continue the Budget 2022 negotiations, along with my Government colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Humphreys said householders who were paid the Fuel Allowance last year would automatically be paid again this year as long they remained entitled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to state also that there are two options for payment. As an alternative to a weekly payment of \u20ac28, householders also have the option of being paid in two lump sums of \u20ac392 each,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFinally, I urge anyone who is newly eligible for the payment to submit an application immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

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