Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2018
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for a household benefits package by a person (details supplied) will be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46412/18]
View answerThe free television licence forms part of the household benefits package, together with the electricity or gas allowance. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment and who are living alone or only with an excepted person. There is of course a universal entitlement to the free licence where a person is aged 70 and over.
An excepted person for the purpose of qualifying for the household benefits package includes:
- a qualified adult
- a dependent child aged under 18 years (or up to 22 years if in full time education)
- a person who would qualify for the household benefits package in their own right
- a person providing full time care and attention.
The original application in this case was disallowed in December 2016 as the utility bill provided by the person concerned referred to a different address and showed a different name as the registered consumer. Following further correspondence and representations on the person's behalf, and in an effort to assist and facilitate the person concerned, a Social Welfare Inspector called to the person's address on 8th August 2018, to investigate and determine the household composition. The inspector confirmed that the person concerned resides at the address provided in a shared accommodation arrangement with another person. Following this investigation, the person concerned was asked to provide confirmation that the person residing with him is an 'excepted person' for the purposes of household benefits eligibility.
The person's entitlement to the household benefits package, including his entitlement to the free television licence, will be reviewed on receipt of the additional information sought.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
