James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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610. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason pensioners under 70 years-of-age who paid a class D stamp are not eligible for the household benefits package (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8031/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Household Benefits Package comprises of an Electricity or Gas allowance, and a Free Television Licence. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household. The payment is made on a monthly basis.

The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment, or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. For customers aged 70 or over, there is no requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying payment or to satisfy a means test.

It is not the case that pensioners under 70 years of age who paid a class D stamp are not eligible for the Household Benefits Package. Rather, for customers under 70, in addition to being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, their 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 (IQA) with his/her social welfare payment for this person; or
• They are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in their own right; or
• They satisfy a means test, if they are on a benefit payment; or
• if aged over 66, they must satisfy a means test if they do not have a qualifying payment of their own; and
• satisfy all other conditions of the scheme.

If there is any change in the circumstances of the person concerned and either she receives an IQA for her spouse on their social welfare payment, or her spouse qualifies for a social welfare payment in his own right, it is open for the person concerned to reapply for the Household Benefits Package.

Alternatively, an application for the Household Benefits Package can be made within 3 months of the 70th birthday of either the person concerned or her spouse, as there is no requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying payment or satisfy a means test when the applicant is aged 70 years or over.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.