Operational Guidelines: Household Benefits Package

Internal Guidelines used in administering schemes comprising the Household Benefits Package:

• Electricity Allowance
• Cash Electricity Allowance
• Natural Gas Allowance
• Cash Gas Allowance
• Free Television Allowance

The Household Benefits Package helps towards the costs of your Electricity or Gas Bills. It also includes your Television Licence.

Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household and you must reside full time in Ireland.

For those aged 70 or over, it is not means tested and you do not need to be getting a qualifying payment.

If you are between 66 and 70 you may still get the package, if you meet the necessary conditions. (see conditions below)

You may also get the package if you are under 66 and get a Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or Carer’s Allowance (if you are living with the person you are caring for).

Description of Household Benefits Package

Electricity/Gas Allowance

The Electricity/Gas Allowance has four different options, depending on the applicant's circumstances. An eligible person can only be in receipt of one of the four options at any given time.

a) Electricity Allowance

The Electricity Allowance provides a credit of €1.15 a day on the bill.

b) Cash Electricity Allowance

The Cash Electricity Allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month to the customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office. It is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

The Cash Electricity Allowance is also payable, if the applicant’s home is not connected to an Electricity or Natural Gas Supply but they otherwise satisfy the conditions of the scheme.

c) Natural Gas Allowance

The Natural Gas Allowance is an alternative to the Electricity Allowance for people whose homes are connected to a Natural Gas supply. This is a credit of €1.15 a day applied to your bill.

d) Cash Gas Allowance

The Cash Gas Allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month to the customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office. It is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

The Cash Gas Allowance is also payable, if the applicant’s home is not connected to an Electricity or Natural Gas supply but they otherwise satisfy the conditions of the scheme.

Free Television Licence

Qualified persons are entitled to a Free Television Licence from the next renewal date of their licence following award of the allowance.

Legislation

The Household Benefit Package is non-statutory, having been introduced and extended by Ministerial Announcement.

Taxation

Household Benefits Package payments are fully exempt from income tax, PRSI and USC.

Administration

The Schemes are administered by the Household Benefits Section in the Social Welfare Services Office, Sligo.

Qualifying Conditions

Summary of Qualifying Criteria:

For those aged 70 or over, it is not means tested and you do not need to be getting a qualified payment. But you must be residing in Ireland and no other person in the household can be in receipt of the allowance.

Applicants in receipt of Carer’s Allowance must be residing with the person they are caring for.

• applicant must be legally resident in the State AND
• no other person in their household can be in receipt of the allowance AND
• the applicant must be the registered consumer of electricity/gas if she or he is applying for an Electricity Allowance or Natural Gas Allowance

Applicants aged BETWEEN 66 AND 70:

In addition to the conditions that apply to applicants aged 70 or over (as listed above), applicants must be getting a qualifying payment (see list of qualifying payments) or alternatively satisfy a means test.

The Qualifying payments for those aged between 66 and under 70 are:

• State Pension Contributory
• State Pension Non Contributory
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension
• Carer’s Allowance
• Deserted Wife’s Benefit
• 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

AND

• If applicable, living with spouse, civil partner or cohabitant as detailed below

In addition to above qualifying condition, an applicant’s spouse/civil partner or cohabitant must be a “Qualified Adult”. A spouse/civil partner or cohabitant is regarded as a “Qualified Adult” for the purposes of the Household Benefits Package if:

• The applicant is receiving an increase for a Qualified Adult with his/her payment for this person or would have received and increase but for the fact that he/she is in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in his/her own right.

OR

• Is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in their own right

OR

• Satisfies a means test, if they are on a benefit payment or are aged over 66.

Applicants aged UNDER 66:

In addition to the conditions that apply to applicants aged 70 or over as listed above applicants must be getting a qualifying payment (see list of qualifying payments below).

The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are:

• Invalidity Pension
• Blind Pension
• Disability Pension
• Carer’s Allowance
• Equivalent Social Security Payment from a country covered by EU Laws or from a country Ireland has a Social Security Agreement with (see appendix 2 for details)
• Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Pension (for at least 12 months)

AND

• If applicable, living with spouse, civil partner or cohabitant as detailed below

In addition to above qualifying condition, an applicant’s spouse/civil partner or cohabitant must be a “Qualified Adult”. A spouse/civil partner or cohabitant is regarded as a “Qualified Adult” for the purposes of the Household Benefits Package if:

• The applicant is receiving an increase for a Qualified Adult with his/her payment for this person or would have received and increase but for the fact that he/she is in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in his/her own right.

OR

• Is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in their own right

OR

• Satisfies a means test, if they are on a benefit payment or are aged over 66

Concessions

Concession 1.

A widow/widower/surviving civil partner aged between 60 and 65 years, whose late spouse/civil partner received an Electricity/Gas allowance or Free TV. licence from this department, may qualify for the Household Benefits Package, if she or he otherwise satisfies the conditions as outlined above, and receives one of the payments below. Please note that if your late spouse/partner was in receipt of the Household Benefits, this payment ceases on their death. A surviving spouse/partner who is in receipt of a qualifying payment or who is over 66, must re-apply for the Household Benefits package in their own name.

Note: where the surviving spouse/surviving civil partner was the person in receipt of the allowance(s) they can retain the Household Benefits package provided that the conditions for receipt of the allowance remains satisfied and they receive one of the payments below.

(from the Department of Social Protection):

• Widow's/Widower's/Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment (Widows/Widowers)
• Widow's Pension or Dependent Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme

(from a foreign Social Security Agency):

• an equivalent Social Security Pension/Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement

(from the Department of Justice):

• a Garda Widow's Ordinary Pension

NOTE: Documentary evidence that the applicant's late spouse received the pension claimed may be requested.

Concession 2.

A person who receives Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance or Blind Pension, may retain Electricity/Natural Gas Allowance, if held, on transfer to another primary long term Department of Social Protection payment (excluding Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance, Illness Benefit and Pre-Retirement Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment and Carer's Benefit or as a Qualified Adult on their spouse/civil partner/co-habitant’s payment). A person who transfers from any primary payment (and had an entitlement to Household Benefits) to receive an Increase for Qualified Adult (IQA) on their spouses/civil partner/cohabitant’s DSP payment, will lose their entitlement to Household benefits.

Concession 3.

Training/Educational Courses/Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme

A person who transfers from the following long-term disability related schemes: - Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension to a recognised training/educational course or Back to Work will now be able to apply for and qualify for the Household Benefits Package while participating on the course. Qualification for the Household Benefits Package will be subject to satisfying all the relevant qualifying conditions. This would mean that at any point while participating on the course a person may qualify for Household Benefits Package if they satisfy the qualifying conditions based on the underlying entitlement to either Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension scheme.

Electricity/Gas Allowance Details

a) Electricity Allowance

How is the Allowance paid?

The Electricity Allowance can be paid as a credit on a customer's Electricity Bill (customer’s name must be on the bill) or as a Cash Electricity Allowance. The Cash Electricity Allowance can be paid to a customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office on the first Tuesday of each month. The Electricity Allowance is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

NOTE: If a customer is paid through a Post Office, using a public service card, the payment must be collected within 90 days.

b) Gas Allowance

How is the Allowance paid?

The Gas Allowance can be paid as a credit on a customer’s Gas Bill (customer’s name must be on the bill) or as a Cash Gas Allowance. The Cash Gas Allowance can be paid to a customer’s nominated Bank Account or Post Office on the first Tuesday of each month. The Gas Allowance is paid at a rate of €1.15 per day.

Note: If a customer is paid through a Post Office, using a public service card, the payment must be collected within 90 days.

Free Television Licence Details

A person who is awarded the Electricity/Gas Allowances is entitled to a Free Television Licence from the next due renewal date of his or her current Television Licence.

The Household Benefits award letter includes the Free Television Licence, which remains valid as long as the applicant continues to receive the Household Benefits Package.

Free Television Licence (Only) Entitlement

The customer can apply for the Free TV Licence only if they wish. Applications can be made online or using the HB1 form.

If a customer changes address while in receipt of the Household Benefits Package they must reapply for the Household Benefits from their new address. The Allowances will cease from their old address.

When and How to Apply for the Household Benefits Package

Applications for the Household Benefits Package should be made online via your MyWelfare Account or on application form HB1 as soon as a person:

• reaches age 70 or
• is 66 and awarded a qualifying payment and satisfies that other conditions as outlined or
• is under 66 and awarded a qualifying payment as outlined OR
• is awarded a Carer's Allowance

Please note that if your late spouse/partner was in receipt of the Household Benefits, this payment ceases on their death. A surviving spouse/partner who is in receipt of a qualifying payment or who is over 66, must re-apply for the Household Benefits package in their own name.

The completed application form and copies of utility bills and so on should be returned to Household Benefits Section in the Social Welfare Services Office, Sligo.

If the applicant is receiving a Social Security Pension

Persons whose pension is not paid by the Department of Social Protection must submit documentary evidence in respect of their pension.

If the applicant, aged between 66 and 70 years, is not receiving a Social Security Pension

If application is being made on a means test basis, a separate means assessment form will be issued. This must be completed in full by the applicant and returned along with all required documentation.

If the applicant is married, or living with a spouse/partner/co-habitant they must also satisfy the qualifying conditions as outlined or they can also be means tested if they are over 66.

All other questions on the form relating to the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who reside in the household, their source of income and so on must be answered.

Income from Renting a Room in own home

The Rent-A-Room means disregard applies to Household Benefits applicants who rent out a room in their own home. This allows for up to a limit of €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home to be disregarded.

Appendix (I) - Procedures in relation to Backdating on Appeal

An application for the Household Benefits Package may be backdated for a maximum of six months where there is an underlying entitlement.

In certain circumstances a backdate may be made for a period in excess of six months.

The period may be extended where the delay in making the claim is due to:

• incorrect information given by the department OR
• the person being so incapacitated that she or he was unable to pursue the claim OR
• a force majeure

Appendix 2

LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH WHICH IRELAND HAS A BILATERAL OR SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT

The EU/EEA countries covered by these Regulations are; Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands & The Isle of Man – see ‘Bilateral Social Security Agreements’ below).

Bilateral Social Security Agreements:

Bilateral Social Security agreements are specific arrangement between participating countries that allow people to move between countries and protect their pension entitlements. Ireland has bilateral social security agreements with:

• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Republic of Korea
• UK (covering Channel Islands and Isle of Man)
• Quebec
• United States of America
• Austria
• Japan

Irelands Bilateral Social Security Agreement with Switzerland has been mainly replaced by EU regulations.

Household Benefits Package terminated on entry to nursing home

On entry to a Nursing Home a customer loses entitlement to the Household Benefits Package from when they entered the Nursing Home. If they return home and re-apply for the schemes within six months the schemes can be backdated to the date that the schemes were terminated.

If the client returns home and re applies for the schemes more than six months after they were terminated the schemes may be backdated to the date they returned home OR for up to six months, whichever is the shorter.

Short hospital stays

A customer may continue to be regarded as residing in their permanent address while they are temporarily undergoing medical treatment in a hospital for a period not longer than 13 consecutive weeks.

Posthumous claims

A posthumous claim for Household Benefits is not considered.

Request for backdate of one scheme

A request for backdating of one element of the Household Benefits Package will be taken as a request to examine possible entitlement to all elements, for example a request for backdating of Electricity/Gas Allowance will be taken as a request to examine possible entitlement to backdating of Free Television Licence. Again, all conditions for each scheme must be satisfied and proof of purchase of TV licence must be furnished.

Refund of TV licence

TV Licences are refunded by the Household Benefits section when the customer has purchased a TV licence which covers the period within which they were awarded from. The TV licence is an annual payment and is refunded in full if the licence is purchased in this period. The customer requests a refund for the licence by submitting the licence paid for or proof of purchase. There are no refunds for part of the year.

If a client has purchased a TV licence on a date after their claim was processed, then they must request a refund from An Post.