As announced in the December 7th 2010 Budget – people who are getting the winter fuel allowance payments will also get an extra one off “cold weather”payment of €40 this year.
People do not need to apply for the payment of €40. It will be automatically paid to all people who currently get a fuel allowance. The €40 allowance will be paid with the main social welfare payment on their appointed payment day. All people entitled to the extra payment should have recieved it between December 22nd 2010 and January 8th 2011.
The Fuel Allowance Scheme costs over €230 million annually and is paid to households that contain about 340,000 people.