Household Benefits Package

Information

If you satisfy a number of conditions, you may qualify for the Household Benefits Package. You must be living in the State. Only one person in a household can qualify for the package at any time.

The Household Benefits Package is made up of:

• The Electricity Allowance or
• The Electricity (Group Account) Allowance or
• The Natural Gas Allowance or
• The Bottled Gas Allowance

  and

• The Telephone Allowance

  and

• The Free Television Licence

If you have an electricity or natural gas supply, you must choose either the Electricity Allowance or the Natural Gas Allowance. The Electricity/Electricity (Group Account) Allowance cannot be paid at more than one address or at the same time as a Natural Gas Allowance.

Budget 2012

It was announced in Budget 2012 that new applicants for Carer's Allowance, who are not living with the person for whom they are providing care, will no longer be eligible for the Household Benefits Package (April 2012).

Electricity Allowance

The Electricity Allowance covers normal standing charges and up to 1,800 units a year (300 units in each two-monthly billing period). Since October 2010, the Electricity Allowance also covers the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy and VAT on the levy.

ESB

Following approval of your application for an Electricity Allowance, the Department notifies the ESB, who will apply the allowance, including any backdated credit, on your next or subsequent bill.

The allowance is paid directly to the ESB. You must pay in the normal way for any electricity you use above the allowance. If you do not use all your free units, up to 1200 unused free units can be carried forward between each billing period. Different payment methods apply if you change from the ESB to another electricity provider - see 'Other electricity providers' below.

If you have a Nightsaver meter in your home, your unused free electricity units will reduce the cost of electricity in your Nightsaver account.

Other electricity providers

If your electricity provider is not the ESB, 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.

Electricity (Group Account) Allowance

You may qualify for a monthly Electricity (Group Account) Allowance 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 Electricity (Group Account) 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. 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 allowance will be paid as a credit on your gas bill or on the first Tuesday of each month to an account in a nominated financial institution or nominated 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. If you don't use your full allowance you can carry up to €150 to your next bill with your existing supplier.

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-metered households.

Bottled Gas Allowance

If your home is not connected to an electricity/natural gas supply but you satisfy the conditions of the scheme, you can avail of the Bottled Gas Allowance.

The Bottled Gas Allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month to an account in a nominated financial institution or nominated post office.

The Bottled Gas Allowance is only available to people who do not have an electricity or natural gas supply.

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 to an account in a nominated financial institution or a nominated 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.

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 to you on the first Tuesday of every month. You can choose to have your allowance paid into a post office or a financial institution, for example, a bank. If you are being paid through a post office, using a social welfare services card, you have 56 days to collect your payment.

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

The allowance can only be awarded if the telephone is registered in your own or joint names. If this is not the case, you should apply to your telephone service provider to have it 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.

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

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.