Household Benefits Package
Two allowances towards household bills — a daily electricity or gas allowance and a free TV licence. Not means-tested from age 70, but you still have to apply.
- Type
- Means-tested
- Paid
- Every day
- Taxable
- No
- Administered by
- Department of Social Protection
How much is Household Benefits Package?
€1.15/day
Electricity Allowance
| Gas Allowance | €1.15/day |
|---|
€1.15 per day — you choose either electricity or gas, not both. The second allowance is a free TV licence. The utility bill does not have to be in your name.
Who can get Household Benefits Package
- From age 70 there is no means test and it does not matter who you live with — but the package is not automatic. You must still apply, online through MyWelfare or on a paper form.
- Under 70, you must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or pass the means test.
- One package per household.
- If you change address you must re-apply, even if you still meet every condition.
The Household Benefits Package means test
No means test at all from age 70, though you must still apply. Under 70, you must be getting a qualifying payment or pass the means test.
How your savings are assessed
All means-tested payments except Disability Allowance, Carer's Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
| Capital | Weekly means assessed |
|---|---|
| First €20,000 | Nil |
| Next €10,000 | €1 per €1,000 |
| Next €10,000 | €2 per €1,000 |
| Balance | €4 per €1,000 |
Capital means your savings, investments, stocks, shares and any property other than your own home. Your own home is never assessed. Capital belonging to a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included.
Things people get caught by
- Turning 70 does not trigger the package automatically. A significant number of over-70s never claim it because they assume it arrives on its own.
- Re-application on moving house is the most commonly missed condition — the package does not follow you to a new address.
What else you might get
Payments interact. These are the ones that commonly go with Household Benefits Package.
- Fuel Allowance
Separate scheme with its own means test.
- Free Travel
Automatic at 66.