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Dublin Live
09-07-2025
- General
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland: Exact groups eligible for free TV licence and €420 a year before age 70
If you are aged over 70 in Ireland you are entitled to a free TV licence. 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. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Dublin Live
22-05-2025
- General
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland: Exact criteria for scheme that helps pay energy bills
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A social welfare scheme is available that contributes towards the cost of gas, electricity and the TV licence. The Household Benefits Package is automatically available to everyone aged 70 and over. You don't need to be receiving a state pension to qualify and there's no means testing involved. Some individuals under 70 are also eligible for the scheme , but additional criteria apply. Here's all you need to know about the Household Benefits Package: Who qualifies for the Household Benefits Package Those aged over 70 who live full-time in Ireland, are the sole person in the household receiving the HBP and have an electricity or gas bill in their name are eligible for the payment. Those under 70 living with a spouse, cohabitant, civil partner or other adults can receive the payment if they are receiving a qualifying social welfare payment and: You are getting an increase in your qualifying social welfare payment for them (see list of qualifying social welfare payments below), 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 The qualifying social welfare payments for people aged between 66 and 70 are: 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 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 are not getting a qualifying social welfare payment, you must pass a means test. The qualifying social welfare payments for those aged under 66 are: 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's included in the Household Benefits Package. The HBP offers a monthly payment of €35 towards either your electricity or natural gas bills. Additionally, it provides a free TV licence. The utility bill allowance is transferred to either a bank account or post office on the first Tuesday of every month. If your energy supplier is Electric Ireland for electricity or Bord Gais for gas, the allowance can be credited directly to your bill each month. How to apply for the Household Benefits Package You can apply online for the Household Benefits Package using if you have a MyGovID account. If you cannot apply online, you can fill in the Household Benefit Package application form (pdf) and return it to the Household Benefits Package section: Household Benefits Package, Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, Ireland, F91 T384. For more information, click here. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
