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Household Benefits Package
From Department of Social Protection
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Last updated on
The Household Benefits Package (HBP) helps towards the costs of your electricity or gas bills. It also includes your television licence. Only one HBP is payable per household.
The package is available to everyone over 70. It is not means tested and you do not need to be getting a pension.
If you are between 66 and 70 you may still get the package, if you meet the necessary conditions.
You may also qualify if you are under 66 and get Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension. or Carer's Allowance (if you are living with the person you are caring for).
To qualify for the Household Benefits Package (HBP), you must:
- live in Ireland (full-time, all year round)
- get the electricity or gas bill in your name
- be the only person in the house getting the Household Benefits Package
AND
- be 70 or older
OR
- be between age 66 and 70 and meet the necessary conditions below
If you are under 70 and you live with your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, you can qualify for the HBP. You must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see below) and:
your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant must be a Qualified Adult on your qualifying payment
OR
- your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant gets a qualifying payment of their own
OR
- if your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant gets a social welfare benefit payment, they must satisfy a means test
- State Pension (Contributory)
- State Pension (Non-contributory)
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
- Deserted Wife's Benefit
- An ordinary Garda Widow's Pension from the Department of Justice and Equality
- 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
If you are aged between 66 and 70 and you are not getting a qualifying payment, then you must satisfy a means test.
A Widow/Widower/Surviving Civil Partner getting an ordinary Garda Widow's Pension and aged between 60 and 65 years may also qualify for the HBP.
You can qualify for the Household Benefits Package if you meet one of these conditions:
- you are getting Carer's Allowance 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
Carer's Allowance (if you are living with the person you are caring for)
Tenant in a rented property
If you are a tenant in a rented property, your landlord must provide:
- written confirmation that you are a tenant
- the MPRN (Meter point reference number) of your address
or
- GPRN (Gas point reference number) of your address
Your landlord must also confirm that you are paying your own energy bills.
The rate of payment for your electricity or gas bill is €1.15 per day, paid monthly.
When 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 Package application.
To get your Household Benefit Package payment as a credit applied to your electricity or gas bill, you must provide a bill showing that you are the registered bill payer for the address you are applying for.
You can now apply on www.MyWelfare.ie for the Household Benefits Package. Apply using the link below:
You can also apply for Household Benefits by downloading the application form below and sending it, together with any supporting documents to:
Household Benefits Package Section
Address:
Department of Social Protection, College Road, Sligo, Co. Sligo, F91 T384
Email:
Phone number:
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the Department follow when carrying out their work.
