Operational Guidelines: Household Benefits Package

Internal Guidelines used in administering schemes comprising the Household Benefits Package:

• Free Electricity Allowance
• Free Gas Allowance
• Free Television Licence

The Household Benefits Package helps towards the costs of your electricity or gas bills. It also includes your Free Television Licence.

Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household and you must reside full time in Ireland.

For those aged 70 or over, it is not means tested and you do not need to be getting a qualifying payment.

If you are between 66 and 70 you may still get the package, if you meet the necessary conditions. (see conditions below)

You may also get the package if you are under 66 and get a Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or Carer’s Allowance (if you are living with the person you are caring for).

Description of Household Benefits Package

Free Electricity Allowance or Free Gas Allowance and the Free Television Licence

a) Free Electricity Allowance

The Cash Electricity Allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month to the customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office. It is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

b) Free Gas Allowance

The Free Gas Allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month to the customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office. It is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

Free Television Licence

Qualified persons are entitled to a Free Television Licence from the next renewal date of their licence following award of the allowance.

Legislation

The Household Benefit Package is non-statutory, having been introduced and extended by Ministerial Announcement.

Taxation

Household Benefits Package payments are fully exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC.

Administration

The Schemes are administered by the Household Benefits Section in the Social Welfare Services Office, Sligo.

Qualifying Conditions

Summary of Qualifying Criteria:

For those aged 70 or over, it is not means tested and you do not need to be getting a qualified payment. But you must be residing in Ireland and no other person in the household can be in receipt of the package.

Applicants aged under 70 in receipt of Carer’s Allowance must be residing with the person they are caring for.

• applicant must be legally resident in the State AND
• no other person in their household can be in receipt of the package

Applicants aged BETWEEN 66 AND 70:

In addition to the conditions that apply to applicants aged 70 or over (as listed above), applicants must be getting a qualifying payment (see list of qualifying payments) or alternatively satisfy a means test.

The Qualifying payments for those aged between 66 and under 70 are:

• State Pension Contributory
• State Pension Non Contributory
• Bereaved Partner’s Contributory Pension or Bereaved Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
• Carer’s Allowance (must be residing with the person they are caring for)
• Deserted Wife’s Benefit
• A Garda Widow’s Ordinary Pension from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
• A Social Security Pension/Benefit covered by EU Laws or from a country Ireland has a Social Security Agreement with
• Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Benefit

AND

• If applicable, living with spouse, civil partner or cohabitant as detailed below

In addition to above qualifying condition, an applicant’s spouse/civil partner or cohabitant must be a “Qualified Adult”. A spouse/civil partner or cohabitant is regarded as a “Qualified Adult” for the purposes of the Household Benefits Package if:

• The applicant is receiving an increase for a Qualified Adult with his/her payment for this person or would have received and increase but for the fact that he/she is in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in his/her own right.

OR

• Is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in their own right

OR

• Satisfies a means test, if they are on a benefit payment or are aged over 66.

Applicants aged UNDER 66:

In addition to the conditions that apply to applicants aged 70 or over as listed above applicants must be getting a qualifying payment (see list of qualifying payments below).

The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are:

• Invalidity Pension
• Blind Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance (must be residing with the person they are caring for)
• Equivalent Social Security Payment from a country covered by EU Laws or from a country Ireland has a Social Security Agreement with (see appendix 2 for details)
• Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Pension (for at least 12 months)

AND

• If applicable, living with spouse, civil partner or cohabitant as detailed below

In addition to above qualifying condition, an applicant’s spouse/civil partner or cohabitant must be a “Qualified Adult”. A spouse/civil partner or cohabitant is regarded as a “Qualified Adult” for the purposes of the Household Benefits Package if:

• The applicant is receiving an increase for a Qualified Adult with his/her payment for this person or would have received and increase but for the fact that he/she is in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in his/her own right.

OR

• Is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in their own right

OR

• Satisfies a means test, if they are on a benefit payment or are aged over 66

Concessions

Concession 1.

A bereaved partner aged between 60 and 65 years, whose late partner received the Household Benefits Package from this department, may qualify for the Household Benefits Package, if she or he otherwise satisfies the conditions as outlined above, and receives one of the payments below. Please note that if your late spouse/partner was in receipt of the Household Benefits Package, this payment ceases on their death. A surviving partner who is in receipt of a qualifying payment or who is over 66, must re-apply for the Household Benefits Package in their own name.

Note: where the surviving partner was the person in receipt of the allowance(s) they can retain the Household Benefits Package provided that the conditions for receipt of the allowance remains satisfied and they receive one of the payments below.

(from the Department of Social Protection):

• Bereaved Partner’s Contributory Pension or Bereaved Partner’s Non-contributory) Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment (Widows/Widowers)
• Widow's Pension or Dependent Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme

(from a foreign Social Security Agency):

• an equivalent Social Security Pension/Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement

(from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ):

• a Garda Widow's Ordinary Pension

NOTE: Documentary evidence that the applicant's late spouse received the pension claimed may be requested.

Concession 2.

A person who receives Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance or Blind Pension, may retain the Household Benefits Package on transfer to another primary long-term Department of Social Protection payment (excluding Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance, Illness Benefit, One-Parent Family Payment and Carer's Benefit or as a Qualified Adult on their spouse/civil partner/co-habitant’s payment). A person who transfers from any primary payment (and had an entitlement to the Household Benefits Package) to receive an Increase for Qualified Adult (IQA) on their spouses/civil partner/cohabitant’s DSP payment, will lose their entitlement to the Household Benefits Package.

Concession 3.

Training/Educational Courses/Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme

A person who transfers from the following long-term disability related schemes: - Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension to a recognised training/educational course or Back to Work Enterprise Allowance will now be able to apply for and qualify for the Household Benefits Package while participating on the course. Qualification for the Household Benefits Package will be subject to satisfying all the relevant qualifying conditions. This would mean that at any point while participating on the course a person may qualify for Household Benefits Package if they satisfy the qualifying conditions based on the underlying entitlement to either Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension scheme.

Free Electricity/Free Gas Allowance Details

a) Free Electricity Allowance

How is the Allowance paid?

The Free Electricity Allowance can be paid to a customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office on the first Tuesday of each month. The Free Electricity Allowance is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

NOTE: If a customer is paid through a Post Office, the payment must be collected within 90 days.

b) Free Gas Allowance

How is the Allowance paid?

The Free Gas Allowance can be paid to a customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office on the first Tuesday of each month. The Gas Allowance is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

Note: If a customer is paid through a Post Office, the payment must be collected within 90 days.

Free Television Licence Details

A person who is awarded the Household Benefits Package is entitled to a Free Television Licence from the next due renewal date of his or her current Television Licence.

The Household Benefits Package award letter includes the Free Television Licence, which remains valid as long as the applicant continues to receive the Household Benefits Package.

Free Television Licence (Only) Entitlement

The customer can apply for the Free Television Licence only if they wish. Applications can be made online or using the HB1 form.

If a customer changes address while in receipt of the Household Benefits Package they must reapply for the Household Benefits Package from their new address. The Package will cease from their old address.

When and How to Apply for the Household Benefits Package

Applications for the Household Benefits Package should be made online via your MyWelfare account or on application form HB1 as soon as a person:

• reaches age 70 or
• is 66 and awarded a qualifying payment, or is prepared to undergo a means assessment or
• is under 66 and awarded a qualifying payment as outlined or
• is awarded a Carer's Allowance

Please note that if your late spouse/partner was in receipt of the Household Benefits Package, this payment ceases on their death. A surviving spouse/partner who is in receipt of a qualifying payment or who is over 66, must re-apply for the Household Benefits package in their own name.

The completed application form should be returned to Household Benefits Section, Social Welfare Services Office, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384.

If the applicant is receiving a Social Security Pension

Persons whose pension is not paid by the Department of Social Protection must submit documentary evidence in respect of their pension.

If the applicant, aged between 66 and 70 years, is not receiving a Social Security Pension

If application is being made on a means test basis, a separate means assessment form will be issued. This must be completed in full by the applicant and returned along with all required documentation.

If the applicant is married, or living with a spouse/partner/co-habitant they must also satisfy the qualifying conditions as outlined or they can also be means tested if they are over 66.

All other questions on the form relating to the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who reside in the household, their source of income and so on must be answered.

Income from Renting a Room in own home

The Rent-A-Room means disregard applies to Household Benefits Package applicants who rent out a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded.

Appendix (I) - Procedures in relation to Backdating on Appeal

An application for the Household Benefits Package may be backdated for a maximum of six months where there is an underlying entitlement.

In certain circumstances a backdate may be made for a period in excess of six months.

The period may be extended where the delay in making the claim is due to:

• incorrect information given by the department OR
• the person being so incapacitated that she or he was unable to pursue the claim OR
• a force majeure

Appendix 2

LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH WHICH IRELAND HAS A BILATERAL OR SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT

The EU/EEA countries covered by these Regulations are; Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands & The Isle of Man – see ‘Bilateral Social Security Agreements’ below).

Bilateral Social Security Agreements:

Bilateral Social Security agreements are specific arrangement between participating countries that allow people to move between countries and protect their pension entitlements. Ireland has bilateral social security agreements with:

• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Republic of Korea
• UK (covering Channel Islands and Isle of Man)
• Quebec
• United States of America
• Austria
• Japan

Irelands Bilateral Social Security Agreement with Switzerland has been mainly replaced by EU regulations.

Household Benefits Package terminated on entry to nursing home

On entry to a Nursing Home a customer loses entitlement to the Household Benefits Package from when they entered the Nursing Home. If they return home and contact the section in writing within 13 weeks the Package can be re-instated to the date that it was terminated.

If the client returns home and re-applies for the Package more than 13 weeks after it was terminated, the Package may be backdated to the date they returned home.

Short hospital stays

A customer may continue to be regarded as residing in their permanent address while they are temporarily undergoing medical treatment in a hospital for a period not longer than 13 consecutive weeks.

Posthumous claims

A posthumous claim for Household Benefits is not considered.

Request for backdate of one scheme

A request for backdating of one element of the Household Benefits Package will be taken as a request to examine possible entitlement to all elements. For example, a request for backdating of Free Electricity/Free Gas Allowance will be taken as a request to examine possible entitlement to backdating of Free Television Licence. Again, all conditions for each scheme must be satisfied and proof of purchase of Television Licence must be furnished.

Refund of TV licence

Television Licences are refunded by the Household Benefits section when the customer has purchased a Television Licence which covers the period within which they were awarded from. The Television Licence is an annual payment and is refunded in full if the licence is purchased in this period. The customer requests a refund for the licence by submitting the licence paid for or proof of purchase. There are no refunds for part of the year.

If a client has purchased a Television Licence on a date after their claim was processed, then they must request a refund from An Post.