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Know Your Rights has been compiled by Kerry Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public…
What is the Household Benefits Package?
The Household Benefits Package (HBP) helps with the cost of your electricity or gas bill and the TV licence. Only one person in a household can get the Package.
How does one qualify for the Household Benefits Package?
To get the Household Benefits Package (HBP), you must:
• Be living in Ireland (full-time, all year round)
• Be the only person in your household getting the HBP
• Have the electricity or gas bill in your name (if you are applying for an Electricity or Gas Allowance)
• Be aged 70 or over
• Be aged under 70 and meet some additional conditions.
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What are the additional qualifying conditions for people aged under 70 to get the HBP?
If you aged under 70 and you are living with your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner, you can get the HBP if you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment and
• You are getting an increase in your qualifying social welfare payment for them or
• They are getting their own qualifying social welfare payment or
• They are getting a social welfare payment which is not a qualifying payment and they satisfy a means test.
You should contact your local Citizens Information Centre to check the qualifying payments.
You can live with other adults (who are not your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner) and get the HBP.
Do widowed people or surviving civil partners qualify for the HBP?
You can qualify for the Household Benefits Package, if you are widowed or a surviving civil partner aged between 60 and 65 and your late spouse or civil partner was getting the Household Benefit Package before his or her death.
To qualify you must have lived together when the Household Benefit Package was first awarded and you must be getting a qualifying payment.
If you were under 60 when your spouse or civil partner died, you can get the Household Benefits Package when you turn 60 as long as you meet these conditions.
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What is covered by the Household Benefits Package?
There is an Electricity Allowance of €35 monthly (€1.15 per day) or a Natural Gas Allowance of €35 monthly (€1.15 per day) If you have an electricity and natural gas supply, you must choose between the Electricity Allowance and Gas Allowance. You can choose only one. The Allowance is paid either to your bank account or post office on the first Tuesday of each month.
Once you qualify for the Household Benefits Package, you can get a Free Television (TV) Licence from your next TV Licence renewal date. To get your Free TV Licence, you must select the Television Licence option on the HBP form when you apply.
Can I claim the HBP if I meet the qualifying conditions except the bill is in my landlord’s name?
The Allowance can be paid, if the electricity or gas bill is in your landlord’s name. However, you must be living in self-contained accommodation and your landlord will need to confirm in writing that you are a tenant and paying your own energy bills.
How do I apply for the Household Benefits Package?
You can apply online for the Household Benefits Package using MyWelfare.ie, if you have a MyGovID account.
If you cannot apply online, you can fill in the Household Benefit Package application form, which you can get from your local Citizens Information Centre and return it to the Household Benefits Package section of the Department of Social Protection. The address is on the form.
• For anyone needing information, advice or have an advocacy issue, you can call a member of the local Citizens Information team in Kerry on 0818 07 7860, they will be happy to assist and make an appointment if necessary.
The offices are staffed from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm. Alternatively you can email on tralee@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie for further information.
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