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Irish Mirror

National

Anita McSorley

All the people who don't need to pay Ireland's TV licence fee and may not even realise it

Ireland Social Security

Anyone in Ireland who has a television in their home or business is required under law to have a TV licence, which costs €160 every year.

Fines of up €1,000 can be issued for anyone who is caught without one.

Homes with a TV or equipment capable of receiving a signal, such as an aerial, satellite dish or cable, must hold a licence. This applies even if the TV is broken, as it is considered capable of being repaired.

Only one licence is needed per house or business, even if it has multiple televisions, however it is not currently required to watch television on your computer, phone or other devices, for example the RTE Player or streaming services like Netflix.

TV licences can be bought for the first time at an An Post office, online or by phone. It should then be renewed every 12 months.

However, many people may be unaware they are exempt from needing to pay for a TV licence.

Anyone who qualifies for the Households Benefits Package (HBP) - which aims to help with the cost of electricity and gas bills - can get a free TV licence.

Only one person in a household can get the package, which is available for anyone aged 70 or over. Additional rules apply for under 70s, which are detailed further down.

To get the Household Benefits Package, 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

Anyone aged under 70 and living with a spouse, cohabitant or civil partner can get the HBP if they are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, and other factors apply.

In order to get the HBP, they must be getting an increase in their qualifying social welfare payment for their partner/cohabitant, or they are getting their own qualifying social welfare payment, or they are getting a social welfare payment not listed below and they satisfy a means test.

They can also live with other adults who are not their spouse, cohabitant or civil partner and still get the HBP.

The following social welfare payments will qualify those under 70 for the HBP.

Disability Allowance
Invalidity Pension
Blind Pension
Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Pension (for at least 12 months)
If you are caring for and living with a person who is getting Constant Attendance Allowance.
Carer's Allowance (full or half-rate payment), but you must be living with the person you are caring for.
An equivalent Social Security Pension or Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement

For those aged between 66 and 70 and not getting a qualifying social welfare payment, they must pass a means test. In a means test, the Department of Social Protection examines all their sources of income. The person's weekly income must be below a certain amount to pass the means test.

The amount of means that they are allowed to have for the HBP is the current maximum rate of State Pension, including any increases that they might get for their age, living alone and dependants, plus €120.

The main items included in the means test are:

Cash income that they or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may have. Some cash income may not be included in the means test.
Capital, for example, the value of savings, investments, shares or any property they have (but not your own home).

Eligible people can apply online for the Household Benefits Package using MyWelfare.ie or filling in the Household Benefit Package application form and returning it by post.

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