Thousands could be missing out on little-known welfare payment worth hundreds

THOUSANDS of Irish homeowners could be missing out on the little-known welfare payment that could save them hundreds of euros each year.

The Household Benefits Package, known as HBP, helps homeowners receive assistance with the cost of their electricity or gas bill and the TV licence – but there’s a catch.

To receive assistance with the benefits, only one person in each household who meets the requirements can get the package

The package is not means-tested, and you can receive it if you are 70 years of age or older.

You also do not need to earn a state pension to be eligible for it.

The package includes an allowance for Electricity of €35 (€1.15 per day) or Natural Gas of €35 (€1.15 per day) and a free TV licence.

To qualify for the Household Benefits Package, you must:

• Be living in Ireland as a full-time resident
• Be the only person in the household getting the package
• Be aged 70 or above
• Be aged under 7- and meet the requirements for ‘People aged under 70’
• Have the electricity or gas bill under your name if you are applying for an Electricty or Gas Allowance paid as a credit on your bill

People aged under 70 are entitled to the Household Benefits Package but there are rules that apply.

If the homeowner is aged under 70 and is living with their spouse, cohabitant or civil partner, they can get the package if they are getting a qualifying social welfare payment and:

• You are getting an increase in your qualifying social welfare payment for them or
• They are getting their own qualifying welfare payment listed below or
• They are getting a social welfare payment not listed below and they satisfy a means test

Homeowners can get the package while living with other adults who are not your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner.

People who are receiving qualifying welfare payments for State Pension, Deserted Wife’s Benefits, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension and Incapacity Supplement are eligible for the package.

Homeowners who are widowed or a surviving civil partner aged between 60 and 65 and your late partner was getting the package before their death can be entitled to the package.

MEANS TEST

However, if you are aged between 66 and 70 and are not receiving payment from one of the qualifying welfare payments, you must pass a means test.

In the means test, the Department of Social Protection will examine all of your sources of income with other documents to see if they are entitled to the package.

There are two ways to apply for the Household Benefits Package.

It can be done online by using the MyWelfare.ie if you do have a MyGovID account.

If you cannot apply online, you can fill in the Household Benefit Package application form which can be found on the social welfare website.

The application needs to be posted to: Household Benefits Package, Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, Ireland, F91 T384.