Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1160. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of broadening entitlement to the household benefits package to households in which a civil or public service occupational pensioner aged 66 to 69 inclusive is not in receipt of a qualifying payment or is not an excepted person for the purposes of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40816/21]
View answerThe household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €265 million this year on HHB for over 470,000 households. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare payments, such as Disability Allowance.
My Department does not hold information in relation to the number of households which contain a public or civil service pensioner (or pensioners) aged between 66 and 69 who are not currently in receipt of a qualifying payment for the HHB package or who are not an excepted person for the purpose of the scheme. Therefore, I am unable to provide an estimated cost of the measure proposed by the Deputy.
A person aged between 66 and 69 who is not receiving a qualifying payment from the Department such as the State Pension (Contributory) may still apply for the HHB package subject to satisfying a means test. The means test involves calculating their appropriate weekly means limit. This limit is based on the current maximum rate of State pension (contributory) including any increases for age, living alone, and adult/child dependents plus €100. The weekly income limit is then compared to their weekly means as assessed in a means test. If their weekly means are less than or equal to their income limit, then they satisfy the means test and qualify for the household benefits package subject to also satisfying all other qualifying conditions.
Any decision to change the qualifying criteria for HHB to allow public and civil servants to automatically qualify for the package when they turn 66 would have wider budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
