Ministers say only one voucher will be available per eligible household and will be for oil customers only
18:34, 17 Apr 2026Updated 19:05, 17 Apr 2026
People of Belfast react to £100 fuel payment
On Thursday, the Executive agreed to provide an additional £19.2million on top of more than £17million provided by the UK Government last month.
The new scheme will mean that around 300,000 low-income households will be eligible for a £100 pre-paid card, which can be used with home heating oil suppliers.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed that it will be several months before those eligible can receive their £100 oil heating payment.
We took to the streets of Belfast City Centre to ask people about how the fuel crisis has affected them and whether the £100 payment is enough.
One person believed that people “cannot sustain” their lifestyle given the current fuel costs in the country. He also felt that the “government didn’t seem to be doing anything about it”. He went on to say that the fuel protest that we saw across Northern Ireland on Tuesday reminded him of the 90s and that “they need to happen again”.
He urged the government to do more than the £100 payment and believed that lowering fuel taxes would help much more.
A second added that the situation is “atrocious”, especially for those who drive a lot for work or have families. When asked about the £100 fuel voucher, he said: “I don’t think it is enough, especially when you have children at home”.
We also asked a student about the current fuel crisis and what the government have offered in terms of support, and she said she was largely unaffected and tried to use the bus as much as possible to help counter the rising costs. However, when asked what they thought of the help the government have offered, they agreed that they didn’t think what has been offered for someone living in “a bigger household” was enough.
The people of Belfast have spoken out(Image: Belfast Live)
One person who didn’t wish to appear on camera called it “a disgrace”, and that what has been offered was enough to support those who drive for a living.
Eligible households will be able to apply for the £100 prepaid card that can be used at heating oil suppliers. Approximately 500,000 homes in Northern Ireland rely on oil as a primary heating source.
Ministers say only one voucher will be available per household and will be for oil customers “at this time”.
Eligible groups identified as most vulnerable to increased heating oil costs include:
Households in receipt of income-related means tested benefits, namely Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Related Employment and Support Allowance;Households in receipt of Disability benefits;Pensioner households not in receipt of Pension Credit with income below £30,000; andHouseholds on incomes below £30,000 and not in receipt of income related benefits.
VIDEO CREDIT: Justin Kernoghan
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