Electricity Allowance
How it is paid
If you qualify for an Electricity Allowance, depending on your supplier it will be paid as a credit on your electricity bill or on the 1st Tuesday of each month to an account in a nominated financial institution or a nominated post office.
Note:
If you are being paid through a post office, using a social services card, you must collect your allowance before the next monthly payment is due.
If you require a social services card, please contact Household Benefits Section, LoCall 1890 500 000.
What it covers
The Electricity Allowance covers:
- normal standing charges
- Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy and
- up to 1,800 units of electricity each year, which equals:
up to 300 units of electricity in each two-monthly billing period throughout the year.
You may only get the allowance if the electricity account is registered in your name. If your name is not on the bill, you should ask your electricity provider to have your name included on the bill.
If you live in a flat or similar accommodation and do not have should contact your supplier and have your name included on the bill with the registered account holder.
You will have to pay your supplier in the normal way for any electricity you use over and above the allowance. If you do not use all your free units, you may carry up to 1200 unused free units between each billing period with your existing supplier.
If you have a Nightsaver meter in your home, your unused free electricity units will reduce the cost of electricity in your Nightsaver account.
Natural Gas Allowance
How it is paid
If you qualify for a Natural Gas Allowance, the allowance is applied to your natural gas account from the start of the two monthly billing period that begins after we approve your application.
The allowance will appear on the second gas bill you receive after that date, and will include any arrears due to you.
What it covers
The Gas Allowance covers the standing charge and a certain amount of kilowatt hours each year.
For more information, log on to 'www.welfare.ie'.
Notes:
- The Natural Gas Allowance cannot be paid at more than one address or at the same time as an Electricity Allowance.
- The Natural Gas Allowance does not cover the cost of installing a natural gas supply to your home.
- You may only get the allowance if the gas account is in your name. If your name is not on the bill, you should ask your gas provider to include your name on the bill.
Group Account Allowance
You may qualify for a Group Account Allowance if you are living in self-contained accommodation (a flat or an apartment) and:
- you have your own electricity or gas slot meter, or
- there are a number of separate meters operating from one meter and the registered consumer of gas or electricity at your address is a landlord, or
- there are no separate meters, but the registered consumer of gas or electricity at your address is a landlord.
Note:
The Group Account Allowance cannot be paid at more than one address (or at the same time as a Gas or Electricity Allowance).
How it is paid
The allowance is paid on the 1st Tuesday of each month to an account in a nominated financial institution or a nominated post office. You must provide details of your preferred payment method on the application form.
Note:
If you are being paid through a post office, using a social services card, you must collect your allowance before the next monthly payment is due.
If you require a social services card, please contact Household Benefits Section, LoCall 1890 500 000.
For more information, log on to 'www.welfare.ie'.
Bottled Gas Allowance
What it is
If your home is not connected to an electricity or natural gas supply but you would otherwise satisfy the conditions of the scheme, you may qualify for a Bottled Gas Allowance.
How it is paid
The allowance is paid on the 1st Tuesday of each month to an account in a nominated financial institution or a nominated post office. You must provide details of your preferred payment method on the application form.
Note:
If you are being paid through a post office, using a social services card, you must collect your allowance before the next monthly payment is due.
If you require a social services card, please contact Household Benefits Section, LoCall 1890 500 000.
For more information, log on to 'www.welfare.ie'.
Telephone Allowance
How it is paid
You may qualify for a Telephone Allowance for a landline phone or a mobile phone.
If you choose a landline phone, depending on your supplier the allowance will be paid as a credit on your telephone bill or on the 1st Tuesday of each month to an account in a nominated financial institution or a nominated post office. The telephone account must be in your own or joint names. If this is not the case, you should contact your supplier to have the name changed.
If you choose to receive the allowance for a mobile phone, the allowance is paid on the 1st Tuesday of each month to an account in a nominated financial institution or a nominated post office. You must provide details of your preferred payment method on the application form.
For more information, log on to 'www.welfare.ie'.
Note:
If you are being paid through a post office, using a social services card, you must collect your allowance before the next monthly payment is due.
If you require a social services card, please contact Household Benefits Section, LoCall 1890 500 000.
The allowance does not cover the initial charge for installing the telephone or the cost of purchasing a mobile phone.