Energy Benefit

Overview

The Energy Benefit is aimed to mitigate the effect of the increase in expenditure on water and electricity bills of low-income families.

Following the submission of an Energy Benefit application, a person may qualify either:

As a social case, or
Through an Income Means Test.

What you’ll get

A person who qualifies for an Energy Benefit automatically or through an Income Means Test, not exceeding twelve-thousand, four hundred and ninty-three euro (€12,493), shall be entitled to:

An amount to offset thirty (30%) of the consumption of electricity prior to the eco reduction up to a maximum assistance of seventy-five euro (€75) per year per person in the household, and
If claimant or spouse are the account holder, they are entitled to a subsidy of not more than sixty-five euro (€65) per year in respect of the rent of the electricity meter, and a subsidy of not more than fifty-nine euro (€59) per year in respect of the rent of the water meter.

Moreover, a person who is over sixty (60) years of age and is in receipt of an Energy Benefit will also be awarded forty euro (€40) annually as a Gas Rebate per household, payable only with actual bills. On the other hand, a person who is under sixty (60) years of age and is in receipt of an Energy Benefit will be awarded thirty euro (€30) as a Gas Rebate annually per household.

Both the Energy Benefit and Gas Rebate entitlement is deducted directly from the Water and Electricity Bill. The amount of Energy Benefit and Gas Rebate entitlement deducted is indicated in detail on the 2^nd page of the Water and Electricity bill.

In addition, a beneficiary who is eligible for the Energy Benefit and Gas Rebate but is not the account holder of the water and electricity meter, will receive an advice letter from the Department of Social Security with the details of the Energy Benefit and Gas Rebate awarded. This information should be compared with the bill received by the account holder whereby the beneficiary is to confirm that the amount of the Energy Benefit and Gas Rebate mentioned in the letter has been reduced in the bill.

Eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

A person who is in receipt of one of the following Social Security Benefits or Assistances will automatically qualify for the Energy Benefit:
- A Person who is in receipt of either Social Assistance, Assistance for Carers, Increased Assistance for Carers, a Single Unmarried Parent Assistance or Unemployment Assistance.
- A Person who is in receipt of Special Unemployment Benefit.
- A Person who is in receipt of an Age Pension.

A person who is in receipt of one of the following Social Security Allowances or Assistances will qualify through an Income Means Test:
- Children’s Allowance.
- Supplementary Allowance.
- Disability Assistance.

To qualify for the Energy Benefit, the declared income by a claimant claimant must not exceed twelve-thousand, four hundred and ninty-three euro (€12,493), (Year of Assessment 2023).

If the account holder of the Water and Electricity bill passes away, those still residing in the same household, need to report the death of the beneficiary to ARMS Ltd. If still eligible, the person still residing in the same household would then require to forward the new Water and Electricity bill account details to the Department of Social Security for the continuity of the benefit.

Documentation required

General documentation:

Copy of the latest Water and Electricity bill.

Any change in circumstance must be reported immediately to the Director General (Social Security). If the Director General (Social Security) is not informed about change of circumstance, entitlement for the benefit or part of may be forfeited.