Household Benefits Package
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Household Benefits Package is a set of allowances which help you with the costs of running your household. It includes allowances towards covering electricity or gas costs as well as the television licence.
The package is available to everyone aged over 70 and to people under 70 in certain circumstances.
The qualifying conditions for the Household Benefits Package are different depending on what age you are and the payment you are receiving from the government.
You must:
If you are renting your home, your landlord must provide written confirmation that you are a tenant, including the MPRN (Meter point reference number) or GPRN (Gas point reference number) of the address you are living at. Your landlord must also confirm that you are paying your own energy bills.
You can qualify for the Household Benefits Package if you meet one of the following conditions:
You can qualify for the Household Benefits Package if you meet one of the following conditions:
A Widow/Widower/Surviving Civil Partner or in receipt of an ordinary Garda Widow's Pension and aged between 60-65 years may also qualify for the allowance(s) in certain circumstances.
Allowance | Rate |
Electricity or Gas | €1.15 a day payable monthly |
Credit | If you wish to have your Household Benefit payment applied as a credit to your electricity or gas bill, you must show that you are the registered consumer at the address for which you are applying for the Household Benefits Package, for example, by providing a utility bill |
TV Licence | Once you qualify for the Household Benefits Package you qualify for a free Television Licence from its next renewal date. You apply for this as part of your Household Benefits application |
If you have a Public Services Card and a verified MyGovID account, you can apply online for the Household Benefits Package
You can also apply for Household Benefits by downloading the application form below and sending it, together with any supporting documents to:
Application Form: Household Benefits Package (HB1)
Application form for Household Benefits Package HB1
DownloadOperational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the Department follow when carrying out their work.
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