Social welfare Ireland: Exact groups eligible for free TV licence and €420 a year before age 70
There are specific social welfare groups that are eligible for a free TV licence before they turn 70 and also receive a payment worth €420 a year.
The Household Benefits Package is designed to assist with your electricity or gas bill and the TV licence. All those aged 70 and up automatically qualify for the payment.
Some people under 70 can avail of the HBP, though additional conditions apply, reports RSVP Live. Here's how to qualify:
How to qualify?
If you are under 70 and living with your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner, you can get the HBP if you 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 social welfare payment listed below, or
They are getting a social welfare payment not listed below and they satisfy a means test
You can live with other adults (who are not your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner) and get the HBP.
You are between 66 and 70:
State Pension (Contributory)
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
Deserted Wife's Benefit
Carer's Allowance (full or half-rate payment), but you must be living with the person you are caring for.
An ordinary Garda Widow's Pension from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
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
If you are aged between 66 and 70 and not getting one of the payments above, you may qualify for the Household Benefits Package if you pass a means test
Qualifying social welfare payments if you are under 66:
Disability Allowance
Invalidity Pension
Blind Pension
Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Pension (for at least 12 months)
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
What is covered by the Household Benefits Package?
There are 2 allowances in the Household Benefits Package:
Allowance 1
Electricity Allowance of €35 monthly (€1.15 per day)
or
Natural Gas Allowance of €35 monthly (€1.15 per day)
Allowance 2
Free Television Licence
Electricity or Gas Allowance
If you have an electricity and natural gas supply, you must choose between the Electricity Allowance and Gas Allowance. You can choose only one.
The Allowance does not cover the cost of installing an electricity or natural gas supply to your home.
Free Television Licence
Once you qualify for the Household Benefits Package, you can get a Free Television (TV) Licence from your next TV Licence renewal date. To get your Free TV Licence, you must select the Television Licence option on the HBP form when you apply.
You can find out more about it here.
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