Otis Singleton
The date that electricity allowance is paid depends on the scheme and the individual's billing cycle. For example, the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme will pay €250 to all domestic electricity customers in two instalments in 2024 and 2025. The first payment of €125 will be made between November 1st and December 31st, 2024, and the second payment will be made between January 1st and February 28th, 2025. The Free Electricity Allowance, on the other hand, is a monthly allowance of €35 or €1.15 per day for those over 70 and certain individuals under 70. This can be paid directly to the energy supplier as a credit or to the individual's bank account.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount | €35 per month or €1.15 per day |
| Who is eligible | People over 70, people under 70 in certain circumstances, individuals between 66 and 70 who are getting a State, Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension, people under 66 on Disability Allowance or receiving an Invalidity or Blind Pension, people who earn less than €310 a week, people with dependent children under 18, incapacitated individuals in need of care for more than a year |
| Payment method | Paid directly to the energy supplier as a credit against the bill, paid in cash, paid to the bank or post office account |
| Payment timing | Paid monthly, paid in two instalments of €125 in November/December 2024 and February/March 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Free Electricity Allowance is a €35 monthly payment or €1.15 daily
- It's available to over 70s and under 70s on a qualifying social welfare payment
- Payments are made into bank accounts or directly to energy suppliers as bill credit
- The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme gives a €250 payment in 2024 and 2025
- Credits may not appear on the first bill and depend on the billing cycle
The Free Electricity Allowance is a €35 monthly payment or €1.15 daily
The Free Electricity Allowance is a government scheme in Ireland that provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to help cover their electricity or gas costs. The allowance is set at €35 per month or €1.15 per day, and it is not means-tested. This means that individuals do not need to undergo a financial assessment to determine their eligibility for the allowance.
The Free Electricity Allowance is available to individuals over 70 and to people under 70 who meet certain criteria. For those under 70, eligibility typically includes receiving a qualifying social welfare payment, such as a Carer's Allowance, Widow's Pension, or an equivalent Social Security Pension from a country covered by EU regulations or a Bilateral Social Security Agreement. Individuals under 70 may also need to meet additional requirements, such as living alone or with specific exceptions.
The allowance can be paid directly to the individual's energy supplier as a credit against their monthly bill. In this case, the bill must be in the name of the individual receiving the allowance. Alternatively, individuals can choose to receive the allowance as a cash payment into their bank account or collect it from their local post office. If the electricity or gas bill is in the landlord's name, the allowance can still be paid, provided the tenant meets the eligibility criteria and the landlord confirms the tenant's status and their responsibility for paying the energy bills in writing.
It is important to note that the Free Electricity Allowance cannot be combined with the gas allowance. Individuals must choose to receive either the electricity or gas allowance, depending on their needs and circumstances. Any unused portion of the monthly allowance will be carried forward to the next bill. This is particularly relevant during the summer months when energy consumption is typically lower.
The Free Electricity Allowance is part of the Household Benefits Package, which also includes a gas allowance and a free television license. This package aims to assist individuals, especially those over 70 or with specific welfare needs, in managing the costs associated with running a household.
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It's available to over 70s and under 70s on a qualifying social welfare payment
The Free Electricity Allowance is available to everyone over 70 and to people under 70 in certain circumstances. The payment is not means-tested and you don't need to be receiving a state pension to get it. To be eligible, you must be living in Ireland legally and permanently and be the only person in your household who is receiving the allowance.
Individuals between 66 and 70 who are getting a State, Widow's, Widower's, or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension can also get the monthly allowance. If you're under 66 and are on Disability Allowance or are getting an Invalidity or Blind Pension, you can also qualify. However, in both cases, you must be living alone or only with 'excepted people'. If you are under 70, you can get the Household Benefits Package if you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment.
The allowance is set at €35 per month or €1.15 per day. If your energy supplier is Electric Ireland for electricity or Bord Gáis Energy or Flogas for gas, then the €35 allowance can be deducted automatically from your bills. If you’re not a customer of one of these suppliers, you can opt to receive the €35 into your bank account on the first Tuesday of every month or collect the sum from your local Post Office.
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme will give domestic electricity customers an exceptional payment of €250 in 2024 and 2025. Eligible customers will receive the payment in two instalments of €125. The first payment will be made between 1 November and 31 December 2024, and the second between 1 January and 28 February 2025.
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Payments are made into bank accounts or directly to energy suppliers as bill credit
The Free Electricity Allowance is set at €35 per month or €1.15 per day. It is available to everyone over 70 and to people under 70 in certain circumstances. The payment isn't means-tested and you don't need to be receiving a State pension to get it. Individuals between 66 and 70 who are getting a State, Widow's, Widower's, or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension can also get the €35 monthly allowance. If you're under 66 and are on Disability Allowance or are getting an Invalidity or Blind Pension, you can also qualify. However, in both of these cases, you must be living alone or only with 'excepted people'.
If your energy supplier is Electric Ireland for electricity or Bord Gáis Energy or Flogas for gas, then the €35 allowance can be deducted automatically from your bills. If you’re not a customer of one of these suppliers, you can either opt to receive the €35 into your bank account on the first Tuesday of every month or collect the sum from your local Post Office. If you are a Bord Gáis customer, you can have your payment applied directly as credit on your bill. The allowance will be automatically deducted from your electricity bill and will appear as a credit of -€1.15 per day.
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme gives domestic electricity customers an exceptional payment of €250 in 2024 and 2025. The first payment of €125 will be in November/December 2024. The second payment is expected in early 2025 (February/March). The credit may not appear on your first bill during these payment periods, as this depends on your individual billing cycle. Suppliers have information on their websites with the exact dates the credit is shown on customers’ bills.
If you switch electricity suppliers before the credit can be applied to your bill, you should still get paid the credit by your old electricity supplier, by bank transfer or cheque. If your name is not on the bill, the payment can be made in cash to facilitate those collecting the payment on behalf of others. If the electricity or gas bill is in your landlord’s name, the allowance can still be paid. However, you must be living in self-contained accommodation, and your landlord will need to confirm in writing that you are a tenant and paying your own energy bills.
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The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme gives a €250 payment in 2024 and 2025
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme is a government initiative to provide financial relief to domestic electricity customers in Ireland. The scheme offers a one-time payment of €250 to eligible residential electricity customers in 2024 and 2025. This payment is designed to help offset the rising costs of electricity and provide support to those facing financial challenges due to high energy prices.
The €250 payment will be made in two instalments of €125 each, including VAT. The first instalment will be paid between 1 November and 31 December 2024, and the second instalment will follow between 1 January and 28 February 2025. Eligible customers will receive the credit in their account by 9 January 2025. This timely support will help ease the financial burden on households, especially during the colder months when energy usage tends to increase.
It is important to note that this benefit scheme is separate from the existing Free Electricity Allowance, which is a monthly allowance of €35 for eligible individuals over 70 or under specific circumstances. The Free Electricity Allowance is part of the Household Benefits Package and assists with electricity or gas costs throughout the year. It can be received as a credit on eligible individuals' energy bills or paid directly into their bank accounts.
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme, on the other hand, is a one-time payment specifically targeted at providing relief to domestic electricity customers in 2024 and 2025. This scheme is overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to ensure its effective implementation and reach. The eligibility criteria for the scheme are yet to be announced, but it is expected to bring much-needed financial assistance to many households in Ireland.
To avoid any scams, it is important to be aware that the payment is automatic, and individuals do not need to apply or click on any links claiming to offer access to the scheme. The government has issued a scam alert regarding such fraudulent messages. Eligible individuals will receive the credit directly on their electricity bills or through their energy suppliers.
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Credits may not appear on the first bill and depend on the billing cycle
The Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme will see domestic electricity customers in Ireland receive a €250 payment in 2024 and 2025. The payment will be made in two instalments of €125, with the first instalment being paid between November and December 2024, and the second between January and February 2025.
It's important to note that these credits may not appear on your first bill and will depend on your billing cycle. This means that the timing of when you receive your bill within the payment periods can affect whether or not the credit is reflected. However, don't worry if you don't see the credit on your first bill, as suppliers typically provide information on their websites regarding the exact dates the credit will be applied and visible on customers' bills.
To identify the credit on your bill, look for a ''credit line'' with a value of €114.68 (which is €125 excluding VAT). This line item will have an identifier such as 'Government Electricity Credit 1 or 2' or an abbreviated version, depending on your supplier. It's important that the identifier includes the word 'Government', 'Govt', or 'Gov', along with a number ('1' or '2') to indicate which instalment you are receiving.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the credit is only applicable to eligible customers. To be eligible, you must be registered as either an urban or rural domestic customer in the Republic of Ireland, with a unique Meter Point Registration Number (MPRN). This MPRN can be located on your bill. It's also important to ensure that your account is not flagged as a 'low usage' account, which is defined as using less than 150kWh per quarter over four consecutive quarters from September 2023 to August 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
The electricity allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of every month.
The electricity allowance payment is €35 per month or €1.15 per day.
People over 70 and people under 70 in certain circumstances are eligible for the electricity allowance payment. Those under 70 must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment.
To apply for the electricity allowance payment, visit MyWelfare.ie to apply online through your MyGovID account.
