What is the Household Benefits Package?
If granted, you will receive €35 per month off your electricity or gas bills. Once you qualify for the Household Benefits Package, you can also get a free TV Licence from your next TV Licence renewal date.
Who can apply for the Household Benefits Package?
If you receive Carer’s Allowance, you are automatically entitled to the Household Benefits Package. Double-check you are getting this package and if not just send off the application form asap.
Previously people under the age of 66 were unable to claim this Allowance if they were living with their parents because their parents’ income would be taken into consideration and this would lead to them being over the means-tested limit.
But the legislation changed in 2021, and we helped many families successfully apply for the Household Benefits Package for their children living at home.
How to apply for the Household Benefits Package?
My recommendation for parents is to complete the form on behalf of their child. Part 1 should be completed with your child’s information. If your child cannot sign the end of the form, then place a mark on the signature part and write a covering letter to explain.
Question 14 will ask if your child is living alone and you will tick NO. You then need to complete the following section with information about the people living in the household. It asks for salary information on the form but again this will not affect your child’s application.
They will be awarded the Household Benefits Package because they have Disability Allowance.
How to complete Part 2 Household Benefits Package?
You have 4 options to choose from and you need to just tick one option that suits you and the free TV Licences.
If your energy supplier is Electric Ireland for electricity or Bord Gáis or Flo Gas for gas, the Allowance can be paid directly to your energy supplier as a credit against your bill each month. Your child’s name should be ideally on the bill before the allowance can be credited to your bill. If this is possible then ring your supplier, however, this can be tricky if they are under the age of 21.
If you run into issues, just send off the form anyway as it won’t prevent your child from being granted the Household Benefits Package. You can request that the credit is sent to your bank account.
How to complete Part 3 Household Benefits Package?
My recommendation is to put your child’s special needs bank account details here. This will allow the credit to be paid to their account each month.
Once completed, you should send the form to the Household Benefits Section, Department of Social Protection, Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384. If you have more questions, you can ring the Department on (071) 915 7100.
What happens if you don’t use up your gas or electricity allowance?
If you don’t use all your monthly Allowance, you carry it forward to your next bill. You can carry it forward if you switch, to a different energy provider, but you will have to contact your previous provider for a refund.
Can my child in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance be granted the Household Benefits Package?
Unfortunately, only children over the age of 16 and in receipt of Disability Allowance can get awarded the Household Benefits Package. Or as mentioned above, a parent on Carer’s Allowance.
Can you get Fuel Allowance and Household Benefits Package?
Yes, if you currently qualify for the Fuel Allowance, you can also apply for the Household Benefits Package. The Fuel Allowance helps people on certain social welfare with the cost of heating their homes during winter. Click here for more information on the Fuel Allowance
Where can I get the Household Benefits Package form?
You can apply through mywelfare.ie or download the form Household Benefits Package form by clicking on this link https://www.gov.ie/en/form/aa538-household-benefits-package-application-form-hb1/
I hope this helps lots of our families, and as always, please do share this with other families, so nobody is missing out.