How Much Is The Household Benefits Package?
The household benefits package is €35 per month for gas or electricity bills along with a free TV licence worth €160.To apply for the Household Benefits Package, apply online through your MyGov.ie account, or by post. You need to print out the HB1 form, fill it out and return it signed to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. You can phone the department at 0818 200 400.
What Is the Household Benefits Package?
The Household Benefits Package (HBP) is a package of allowances which help with the costs of running your home.
You must be fully resident in the Republic of Ireland to receive this allowance, and only one member of a household can qualify for Household Benefits.
There are two allowances available:
- Electricity or Gas Allowance
- TV Licence Allowance
Can I Get the Fuel Allowance and Household Benefits Package?
Yes. Provided you meet the requirements for the Fuel Allowance, you can receive it along with your Household Benefits Package.
How Do You Qualify For The Household Benefits Package?
There are different categories under which people can qualify for the Household Benefits package (for permanent and legal residents only).
To know how to qualify for the household benefits package, we have divided the eligibility criteria into three categories.
In all three cases, applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Must reside in Ireland full-time.
- Only one person in the household can receive the Household Benefits Package at any given moment.
- For the gas or electricity allowance, the bills must be in your name.
Besides these requirements, applicants who are under 70 must be in receipt of a qualifying social payment to apply.
We have summerised the qualifying payments in the table below:
| Age | Qualifying Social Payments |
|---|---|
| Over 70 | Automatic qualification |
| 66-70 |
|
| Under 66 |
|
Widowed People or Surviving Civil Partners
You can qualify for the Household Benefits Package, if you are widowed or a surviving civil partner aged between 60 and 65 and your late spouse or civil partner was getting the Household Benefit Package before their death.
To qualify you must have lived together when the Household Benefit Package was first awarded and you must be getting one of the following payments:
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) or (Non-Contributory) Pension
- One-Parent Family Payment (Widows/Widowers)
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme
- An equivalent Social Security Pension or Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement
- An ordinary Garda Widow's Pension from the Department of Justice
If you were under 60 when your spouse or civil partner died, you can get the Household Benefits Package when you turn 60 if you meet these conditions.
Is the Household Benefits Package Means Tested?
People aged 66 to 70 who are not receiving one of the relevant benefits payments must pass a means test in order to receive the benefits.
The means test is based on both cash income and capital such as savings, investments, property (not main residence).
The weekly income threshold for the means test is set at the current top rate of the Contributory State Pension plus €200.
Income From Renting a Room in Your Home
People who rent out a room in their home, not a second property, are able to receive up to €269.23 per week which is not assessed as part of the means test. This person must not be an immediate family member or an employee, and must reside in the room at least 28 days of the year.
How To Apply For the Household Benefits Package?
You can apply online using MyWelfare.ie if you have a MyGovID account.
Alternatively, you can apply by post.
First print the HB1 form, fill it out and return it signed to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
To fill out the Household benefits package form, you'll need to hand in the following details:
- Your contact and address details.
- Your PPS number and the numbers of anyone else who lives with you.
- A copy of your GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) card, where applicable.
- Your MPRN and or GPRN numbers (these are your electricity or gas meter numbers).
- Your television licence number.
- Details of the financial institution (BIC and IBAN), or post office of your choosing.
Household Benefits Package Form
To apply for the Household Benefits Package, it's necessary to fill out a HB1 form and return it to the Department of Social Protection. Click here to download the form.
How Much Is The Household Benefits Package?
The two allowances in the Household Benefits Package offer qualifying people monthly assistance with their electricity or gas, and tv licence:
- Allowance 1: €35 per month for electricity OR gas.
- Allowance 2: Free TV licence.
How Do I Receive the Electricity Allowance?
If you’re with Electric Ireland or Bord Gáis you have the option of having your electricity allowance paid directly to these suppliers as a monthly credit against your utility bill.
If you’re with any other energy provider, the household benefits allowance will be deposited into your bank or post office account which you provide details for on your application form.
Users with a Pay-as-you-go meter can only receive payments with this option.
How Do I Receive the Gas Allowance?
Should you prefer to use your household benefits package towards your gas bill, it works the same as with the electricity allowance.
You can choose to have your gas allowance either be put into your bank account directly each month, or paid as a monthly credit against your Bord Gáis Energy or Electric Ireland gas bill.
Again here, if you are renting a property, your landlord will need to provide written confirmation that you are paying the gas bill.
It is important to note that the gas allowance under the household benefits package only applies to natural gas. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Heating Oil (kerosene) delivery do not qualify as eligible bills under this government scheme.
How Do I Receive The TV Licence Allowance?
If you qualify for the household benefits package and would like to apply for the free TV licence, you can apply using the same household benefits package form which is used for the gas or electricity allowance (just make sure to tick the TV licence box).
You will then be eligible for a free TV licence from the date of your next renewal and An Post will be contacted and informed of this by the Department of Welfare.
If your circumstances change and you are no longer entitled to the Household Benefits Package, you will lose your right to a free license and will need to start paying for one again at the next date of renewal.
Budget 2025
Budget 2025 included several financial packages to help vulnerable customers with home heating and energy costs. Read our guide to the budget and find out what help you can get this winter.
Looking for extra financial help to cover the cost of your energy bills in 2025?
Further lower your home energy costs by switching to a cheaper provider with Selectra!
Looking for extra financial help to cover the cost of your energy bills in 2025?
We're currently closed but please leave us your number and we'll give you a free callback as soon as we're open!
What Is The Number for Household Benefits Package?
The department of Social Protection is contactable by phone, email and post.
In the table below, you'll find the main contact details for the department.
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 0818 200 400 or (071) 915 7100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. |
| [email protected] | |
| Post | Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection (Household Benefits Package section) Social Welfare Services College Road Sligo Ireland |
SEAI Grants
There are also a number of SEAI grants that can help with reducing home energy bills such as the Windows and Doors grant and Warmer Homes Scheme.
Household Benefits Package FAQ's
What to Do When Switching Energy Suppliers?
If you change energy suppliers and you are receiving the household benefits package, it’s important to let the department of welfare know of the change as soon as possible.
You will have to provide them with proof of your new supplier (e.g. with a bill dating from the time you changed supplier) to not miss out on any payments.
At the moment only customers with Bord Gáis Energy and Electric Ireland can have their allowance applied directly to their bill.
Claimants who switch to any other provider will need to contact the department of welfare as soon as possible to provide them with details of the account where they would like to receive the payment instead.
What If I Change Address?
If you change address, your allowance will not be automatically transferred to your new accommodation, you will need to reapply to continue receiving benefits.
You'll again need to fill out the household benefits package form and post it to the Department of Welfare.
What If the Electricity Bill Is in the Landlord's Name?
If you’re living in a flat or an apartment you share with your landlord, you can still qualify for the electricity allowance. However, your landlord will have to confirm in writing that you are paying your electricity bills as a tenant of the shared property.
Can the Household Benefits Package Be Backdated?
The Household Benefits Package can be backdated in some cases. Further backdating beyond the set time will be allowed only if:
- The reason you didn’t apply resulted from incorrect information being supplied by the Department of Social Protection,
- The delay was due to your incapacity.
Household Benefits Package 2025 and Energy Bills
Home energy bills and the cost of electricity continue to pose a challenge to households across Ireland who are finding it more challenging to budget their household costs.
While the Household Benefits Package can help ease the financial pressure of household costs, for many people, energy bills continue to add financial pressure.
Here at Selectra, our dedicated team of energy experts are on hand to advise you on how switching your energy provider can lead to lower annual bills, taking some of the pressure off.
Visit our dedicated energy guide pages to compare average electricity prices, see what Ireland’s energy providers are offering and learn more about how to be more energy efficient.