The cost of living crisis has us all feeling the pinch with the elderly especially struggling to pay their bills.
Some older people have even resorted to taking trains during the day just to keep warm. But there is a social welfare package available to help those over 70 pay their utility bills.
Those under 70 may also qualify for the Household Benefits Package, which also provides a free television licence to recipients. Here's all you need to know about the payments.
Read more: Back to School allowance applications for 2022 opens
Who qualifies for the Household Benefits Package
People over 70 who are living in Ireland full-time, are the only person in the household receiving the HBP and have an electricity or gas bill in their name qualify for the payment.
Those who are under 70 and are living spouse, cohabitant, civil partner or other adults can get the payment if they are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and:
- Are getting an increase in their qualifying social welfare payment for them or
- Are getting their own qualifying social welfare payment or
- Are getting a social welfare payment and they satisfy a means test
Widowed or surviving civil partners aged between 60 and 65 may get the payment if their late spouse or civil partner was getting the Household Benefit Package before their death. To qualify, the couple must have lived together when the HBP was first awarded and the surviving partner must be getting one of the following payments:
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) or (Non-Contributory) Pension
- One-Parent Family Payment (Widows/Widowers)
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme
- 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
- An ordinary Garda Widow's Pension from the Department of Justice and Equality
Those who are under 60 when their spouse or civil partner died can get the HBP when they turn 60 provided they meet the above conditions.
What is covered in the Household Benefits Package
The HBP provides a payment of €35 per month towards either electricity or natural gas bills. The second allowance provides a free TV licence to recipients.
The utility bill allowance is paid to either a bank account or post office on the first Tuesday of every month. If the energy supplier is Electric Ireland for electricity or Bord Gáis or Flo Gas for gas, the allowance can be paid directly to the energy supplier as a credit against the recipient's bill each month.
If all of the allowance isn't used in a month, it can be carried forward to the following month. Those living in rented accommodation where the bill is in the landlord's name can also avail of the payment provided the landlord confirms in writing that the recipient of the allowance is the tenant and is paying their own energy bills.
How to apply
Applications can be completed at MyWelfare.ie. Alternatively, applications can be made by post to:
Household Benefits Package
Social Welfare Services
College Road
Sligo
Ireland
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