Household Benefits Package

Information

If you satisfy a number of conditions, you may qualify for the Household Benefits Package. This is a package of 3 allowances which help you with the costs of running your household. You must be living in the State. Only one person in a household can qualify for the package at any time.

Budget 2013

The value of the Telephone Allowance and the Electricity/Gas Allowance elements of the Household Benefits Package reduced for new and existing recipients with effect from 1 January 2013.

There are frequently asked questions on changes to the Household Benefits Package on welfare.ie.

There are various commercial websites that allow you to compare energy prices. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) accredits cost comparison websites if they meet certain standards. You can check accredited websites on energycustomers.ie.

Allowances

There are three allowances in the Household Benefits Package:

Allowance 1

• The Electricity Allowance or
• Natural Gas Allowance or
• Cash Electricity Allowance or
• Cash Gas Allowance

Allowance 2

• The Telephone Allowance

Allowance 3

• The Free Television Licence

Allowance 1: Electricity/Gas Allowance

If you have an electricity or natural gas supply, you must choose either the Electricity Allowance or the Natural Gas Allowance.

Electricity Allowance

The Electricity Allowance has been adjusted from a unit-based allowance to a cash credit each month effective from 1 January 2013. This change will be automatically applied to your bill if you are an Electric Ireland customer. This will be shown as €35 per month credit on your Electric Ireland bill.

Electric Ireland customers

Following approval of your application for an Electricity Allowance, the Department notifies Electric Ireland, who will apply the allowance, including any backdated credit, on your next or subsequent bill. The allowance is paid directly to Electric Ireland. You must pay in the normal way for any electricity you use above the allowance.

Other electricity providers

If your electricity provider is not Electric Ireland, your Electricity Allowance is paid directly to you to use towards your electricity bill. In this case, the allowance can be paid into your bank account or at your local post office.

If you are already getting an Electricity Allowance and change your electricity provider, you do not need to reapply. Your Electricity Allowance will continue to be paid – either as a credit to your bill with Electric Ireland or as a cash payment with other suppliers.

Cash Electricity Allowance

You may qualify for a monthly Cash Electricity Allowance of €35.00 if you are living in self-contained accommodation (a flat or apartment), and:

•You have your own electricity slot meter

or

•There are a number of separate electricity meters operating from one meter from an electricity provider and the registered consumer of electricity is a landlord

or

•There are no separate meters, but the registered consumer of electricity at your address is a landlord.

The Cash Electricity Allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month to an account in a financial institution, for example, a bank or, if you have a social welfare services card, through your local post office. (Note that if you are being paid through a post office, using a social welfare services card, you have 56 days to collect your payment.)

Natural Gas Allowance

Depending on your supplier the Natural Gas Allowance of €35.00 can be paid as a cash credit on your gas bill or on the first Tuesday of each month to an account in a financial institution or a post office.

The Allowance does not cover the cost of installing a natural gas supply to your home.

If the Allowance is paid as a credit on your gas bill, the Department notifies your gas provider, who will apply the allowance, including any backdated credit, on your second gas bill after that date.

The Department of Social Protection will be exploring the carry forward of un-used credit with the gas providers. The Department wants to ensure that customers are dealt with in the most equitable way possible.

Cash Gas Allowance

If your home is not connected to an electricity or natural gas supply but you satisfy the conditions of the scheme, you can get the Cash Gas Allowance of €35.

You can also claim a Cash Gas Allowance if you use gas which is not delivered through the national grid. For example, in some areas a gas tank may provide gas to a number of individually-metred households. The Cash Gas Allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month to an account in a financial institution or a post office.

Carry forward of gas or electricity units

If you had unused units or credits on your last bill in 2012, you can continue to use these saved units/credits until 30 September 2013 (after your new monthly allowance of €35 has been used). Note that your monthly allowance of €35 can be carried forward without restriction and can be drawn down at any stage, including if you wish to switch to a different energy provider.

Allowance 2: Telephone Allowance

The Telephone Allowance is a payment towards your mobile phone or landline phone bill. You can get only one Telephone Allowance per household which can be used for either a mobile phone or landline but not both.

Landline phone: if you use the Telephone Allowance for your landline phone, it is generally paid as a credit on your phone bill. However if your telephone supplier cannot facilitate this it can be paid as cash to an account in a financial institution or a post office. The telephone account must be in your own or joint names. If this is not the case, you should contact your supplier to have the name changed. If your house is divided into flats or apartments, you can only qualify for a Telephone Allowance if the telephone is registered in your name and is located in your private flat/apartment.

Mobile phone: if you use the Telephone Allowance for your mobile phone, you can use it to pay your mobile phone bill or to buy credit for your phone. It is paid as cash to your account in a financial institution or through a post office.

The Telephone Allowance does not cover the installation charge for the telephone.

People aged 70 or over living in nursing homes who have their own telephone account or mobile phone may also qualify.

Allowance 3: Free Television Licence

Once you qualify for the Household Benefits Package, you become eligible for a Free Television Licence from the next renewal date of your television licence.

When you qualify for the Household Benefits Package, the Department issues you with a TV licence, and also notifies An Post of your entitlement to a free licence for as long as you are entitled to the Household Benefits Package.