Thousands of Irish homeowners could be saving hundreds thanks to a little-known payment — do you qualify?

Thousands of homeowners could be saving hundreds of euro a year thanks to a little known social welfare payment.

The Household Benefits Package (HBP) will help homeowners receive assistance in paying bills such as electricity, gas and the TV licence.

However, those who may avail of this package may need to ensure that they qualify, as only one person per household who meets several requirements are only eligible to receive it.

To receive the Household Benefits Package, one must:

• Be living in Ireland as a full-time resident
• Be aged 70 or above
• If under 70, meeting the requirements for ‘people under age 70’
• Be the only person in the household who is receiving the package
• Have the electricity or gas bill under your name if applying for the electricity/gas allowance, paid as a credit on your bill

The package includes an electricity allowance of €35 a month (€1.15 per day), or natural gas of €35 a month, as well as a free TV licence.

People who are under 70 are also able to receive the HBP, but there are a number of rules that apply — including that they are living with a spouse, cohabitant or civil partner, and then only get the package if they receive a qualifying social welfare payment.

As well as getting the social welfare payment, those under 70 who wish to receive the payment must be:

• Getting an increase in the qualifying social welfare payment
• Getting their own qualifying welfare payment
• Getting a social welfare payment that isn’t listed, but satisfy a means test

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

Homeowners that are widowed or are a surviving civil partner aged between 60 and 65 whose late partner were receiving the payment before their death are also eligible for the payment.

If you’re between the age of 66 and 70 and don’t receive any of those social welfare payments, you must pass a means test — where the Department of Social Protection will examine all sources of income with other documents, to see if they’re entitled to the package.

The means test can be conducted either online at MyWelfare.ie if you have a MyGovID account, or filling in the Household Benefit Package application form that can be found on the social welfare website, and posted to Household Benefits Package, Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo F91 T384.