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Household Benefits Package

From: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

What the Household Benefits Package is

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.

How to qualify

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:

  • be legally living in the State on a permanent basis (full-time, all year round)
  • be the only person in the household claiming this benefit
  • be the registered bill holder on the Gas/Electricity bill if you are claiming that allowance
  • prove your identity with a Public Services Card when asked to do so
  • Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant must be a Qualified Adult on their spouse’s pension, be in receipt of a social welfare payment in their own right or have satisfied the means test, if they are on a benefit payment

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. They must also confirm that you are paying your own energy bills.

Carers and Disabled People

You can qualify for the Household Benefits Package if you meet one of the following conditions:

  • you are over 70 years of age
  • you are getting Carer's Allowance and providing full- time care and living with the person you are caring for
  • you are caring for a person you are living with who is getting Constant Attendance Allowance
  • you are between 66 and 70 and are getting one of the following:

State Pension (Contributory)

State Pension (Non-contributory)

Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension

  • Deserted Wife’s Benefit
  • an ordinary Garda Widow’s Pension from the Department of Justice and Equality
  • 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
  • Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Benefit
  • You are aged between 66 and 70 and not receiving a qualified payment, you must satisfy a means test
  • you are under 66 and are getting one of the following:

Disability Allowance

Invalidity Pension

Blind Pension

  • 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
  • Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Benefit

Retired and Older People

You can qualify for the Household Benefits Package if you meet one of the following conditions:

1. You are over 70 years of age

2. You are getting Carer's Allowance. You must be providing full-time care and living with the person you are caring for

3. You are between 66 and 70 and are getting one of the following:

  • State Pension (Contributory)
  • State Pension (Non-contributory)
  • Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
  • Deserted Wife's Benefit
  • an ordinary Garda Widow's Pension from the Department of Justice and Equality
  • an equivalent Social Security Pension or Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement
  • Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Benefit
  • You are aged between 66 and 70 and not receiving a qualifying payment, you must satisfy a means test

4. 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.

Rate of payment

    Allowance Rate
    Electricity or Gas €1.15 a day payable monthly
    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 on your Household Benefits package form

Apply

Return the application form below with the relevant supporting documents to:

Household Benefits Package Section

Phone:
+353719157100
Email:
householdbenefits@welfare.ie
Address:
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384

Application Form: Household Benefits Package (HB1)

Application form for Household Benefits Package HB1

Download

Operational Guidelines

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the Department follow when carrying out their work.

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