There are thousands of people in Ireland who are missing out on a cash boost because they are not aware they’re entitled to it.
A €580 annual social welfare payment is available to a huge number of people to help with household bills.
The scheme, known as the Household Benefits Package helps with the cost of electricity or gas bills as well as the TV licence.
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Just one person per household is entitled to claim the package, but anyone aged 70 or over qualifies for it.
You do not need to be getting a State Pension to be considered and the package is not means-tested.
Some people aged under 70 can also qualify for the payment, however, additional rules do apply.
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 the additional rules for ‘People aged under 70’ set out below.
If you are 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 (see list of qualifying social welfare payments below) or
- They are getting their own qualifying social welfare payment listed below or
- They are getting a social welfare payment not listed below and they satisfy a means test.
To find out more about the qualifying social welfare payments for under 70's, click here.
There are two allowances in the Household Benefits package. The first allowance is a monthly payment of €35 towards your electricity or gas bill or a second one which allows you access to a free Television Licence.
You can apply online for the Household Benefits Package using MyWelfare.ie, if you have a MyGovID account.
However, if you cannot apply online, you can fill in the Household Benefits Package application form, found here.
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