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Household Benefits Package
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Household Benefits Package (HBP) helps cover your electricity or gas bills. It also includes your television licence.
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, or Blind Pension.
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 66 and 70 and meet the necessary conditions
Qualifying conditions for under 70s
If you are between 66 and 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:
you*r 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
- your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant gets a social welfare payment not listed below and they satisfy a means test
If you are renting your home, your landlord must provide:
- written confirmation that you are a tenant
- the MPRN (Meter point reference number) of your address
- GPRN (Gas point reference number) of your address
Your landlord must also confirm that you are paying your own energy bills.
Qualifying Payments between 66 and 70
- 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
- You are between 66 and 70 and not getting a qualifying payment and 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 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 years of age and are getting one of the following:
- 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
- You are aged between 66 and 70 and not receiving a qualified payment, and satisfy a means test
- you are under 66 and are getting one of the following:
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 application
To get your Household Benefit payment as credit applied to your utility bill, you must provide a bill for the address you are applying for.
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:
Household Benefits Package Section
Address:
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, College Road
, Sligo,
, F91 T384
Email:
Phone number:
Application Form: Household Benefits Package (HB1)
Application form for Household Benefits Package HB1
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