Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1189. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility conditions for a person who does not have a social welfare pension to qualify for the household benefit package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44211/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 492,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
The HHB guidelines which are available on the Government website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/3bacea-operational-guidelines-household-benefits-package/ set out in detail the qualifying conditions for the scheme.
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 and the spousal household composition requirement.
Once a person is aged over 70, the HHB package is not means tested and an applicant does not need to be receiving a Social Welfare pension or satisfy the spousal household composition requirement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
