Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
104. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures being taken to ensure that older people living alone receive timely access to the living alone allowance and the household benefits package, particularly where delays in processing applications are causing hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62166/25]
View answerThe Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for people on social welfare payments who are living alone. The Living Alone Increase is paid at the rate of €22.00 per week.
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 at the rate of €1.15 per day, which equates to approximately €35.00 per month.
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.
My Department understands the many pressures faced by customers and always seeks to ensure that Household Benefits Package and Living Alone Increase applications are handled quickly and efficiently.
In relation to the Living Alone Increase which is administered across different primary schemes, applications for the Living Alone Increase are currently being processed within 3 weeks.
The target for processing Household Benefit applications is 90% within 4 weeks of date of receipt. I can confirm that this target has been consistently met and exceeded throughout 2025.
If the Deputy has any particular case in mind, please get in touch with my officials and the matter will be examined without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
