The Household Benefits Package helps towards the costs of electricity or gas bills. It also includes a television licence. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household, and the person must reside full time in Ireland.
For those aged 70 or over, it is not means tested and they do not need to be getting a qualifying payment. If a person is aged between 66 and 70, they may still get the package if they meet the necessary conditions.
Qualifying payments between age 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
- A Garda Widow's Ordinary Pension from the Department of Justice
- A Social Security Pension/Benefit covered by EU laws or from a country Ireland has a Social Security Agreement with
- Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Benefit
If a person is aged between 66 and 70 and is not getting a qualifying payment, then they must satisfy a means test. Other persons under the age of 66 may also qualify for Household Benefits in certain circumstances (for example, if they are in receipt of a disability-related payment).
The records of the Department show the totals recipients for each scheme and indicate the recipients of the Household Benefits Package by scheme, as outlined in the following table. As stated previously, only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household.
|
Primary Scheme
|
Total Recipients during Quarter 2 2023
|
Household Benefits recipients by scheme at end Quarter 2 2023*
|
|
Blind Pension
|
1,007
|
402
|
|
Carer's Allowance
|
96,071
|
41,028
|
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
4,458
|
2,262
|
|
Disability Allowance
|
162,075
|
60,093
|
|
Disablement Benefit
|
14,728
|
4,252
|
|
Invalidity Pension
|
57,575
|
17,889
|
|
State Pension Contributory
|
498,681
|
237,773
|
|
State Pension Non-Contributory
|
100,238
|
52,355
|
|
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
|
127,199
|
74,429
|
|
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
|
1,133
|
152
|
|
No Primary Scheme
|
N/A
|
33,418
|
* Where a recipient is in receipt of more than one qualifying scheme (for example, half-rate Carer's Allowance and another qualifying scheme), this will be reflected in the totals for each scheme.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
