Older people and carers
Household Benefits Package
€35 a month toward your electricity or gas, plus a free TV licence.
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What it is
The package pays €35 a month towards electricity or gas and gives you a free TV licence. Everyone aged 70 or over qualifies, with no means test and no need to be on a pension. Only one person per household can get it, and the bill does not have to be in your name.
How much you can get
€35 a month (€1.15 a day) towards electricity or gas, about €420 a year, plus a free TV licence worth €160. About €580 a year in total. Since 8 September 2025 new applicants get the allowance paid into a bank or post office account on the first Tuesday of each month, not as a credit on the bill.
Who can get it
Anyone aged 70 or over, with no means test. People aged 66 to 69 qualify on the State Pension or a similar payment, or by passing a means test. Under 66 you need a payment such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or Carer's Allowance.
You must live in Ireland full time. If you move into residential care you lose it, and you must reapply if you change address. A stay in hospital of up to 13 weeks does not affect it. You can rent a room in your home for up to €14,000 a year without it affecting the package.
What you’ll need
- Your PPS number
- Bank or post office account details for the monthly payment
- A MyGovID account if you apply online
How to apply
- Apply online on MyWelfare.ie, or post the HBP1 form to Household Benefits Package, Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384. Phone 0818 200 400 for a form.
- Tick the free TV licence option on the form. It starts from your next licence renewal date.
- The allowance is paid on the first Tuesday of each month.
Common questions
How much is the Household Benefits Package?
€35 a month (€1.15 a day) towards electricity or gas, about €420 a year, plus a free TV licence worth €160. About €580 a year in total. Since 8 September 2025 new applicants get the allowance paid into a bank or post office account on the first Tuesday of each month, not as a credit on the bill. €35 a month toward your electricity or gas, plus a free TV licence.
Who qualifies for the Household Benefits Package?
Anyone aged 70 or over, with no means test. People aged 66 to 69 qualify on the State Pension or a similar payment, or by passing a means test. Under 66 you need a payment such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or Carer's Allowance.
How do you apply for the Household Benefits Package?
Apply online on MyWelfare.ie with a MyGovID account, or post the HBP1 form to the Household Benefits section in Sligo. It is not awarded automatically, even at 70. You have to apply.
From our blog: why 116,000 households are missing this package.