A TECHNICAL ISSUE at the Department of Social Protection (DSP) has delayed payment of the fuel allowance to nearly 3,000 people.

A statement from the DSP read said that there is a “problem with some payments of the fuel allowance lump sum due for payment this week”. The DSP said that it is investigating the matter.

It also said that “arrangements will be made to pay customers impacted by this issue as soon as possible”.

This was the first time that recipients could claim the allowance in a lump sum rather than a weekly payment.

Previously, the allowance of €22.50 was paid on a weekly basis amounting to a yearly total of €585 per household.

Fuel allowance is paid to to help with the cost of heating homes during the winter months. It is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.

Read: People can now get the fuel allowance in two lump sums (rather than every week) >

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