Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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482. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will allow recipients of the old-age pension in cases in which a person is residing in the house with their parents to qualify for household package, given the current high energy costs. [53421/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 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 497,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The status and income of other members of the household does not impact on qualifying for the package.

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.

In Budget 2020, it was announced that for HHB applicants aged under 70 who are on a qualifying payment, another adult (except for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of applicant) living in the household will no longer be a disqualifying condition for the purposes of the Household Benefits Package. Therefore, the status and income of the members of a household (except for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of applicant) living in that household does not prevent a HHB applicant from receiving the package.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.