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Social welfare Ireland: Exact groups eligible for free TV licence and €420 a year before age 70
Social welfare Ireland: Exact groups eligible for free TV licence and €420 a year before age 70

Dublin Live

time5 days ago

  • General
  • Dublin Live

Social welfare Ireland: Exact groups eligible for free TV licence and €420 a year before age 70

If you are aged over 70 in Ireland you are entitled to a free TV licence. There are specific social welfare groups that are eligible for a free TV licence before they turn 70 and also receive a payment worth €420 a year. The Household Benefits Package is designed to assist with your electricity or gas bill and the TV licence. All those aged 70 and up automatically qualify for the payment. Some people under 70 can avail of the HBP, though additional conditions apply, reports RSVP Live. Here's how to qualify: How to qualify? If you are under 70 and living with your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner, you can get the HBP if you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment and: You are getting an increase in your qualifying social welfare payment for them, or They are getting their own qualifying social welfare payment listed below, or They are getting a social welfare payment not listed below and they satisfy a means test You can live with other adults (who are not your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner) and get the HBP. You are between 66 and 70: State Pension (Contributory) State Pension (Non-Contributory) Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension Deserted Wife's Benefit Carer's Allowance (full or half-rate payment), but you must be living with the person you are caring for. An ordinary Garda Widow's Pension from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration An equivalent Social Security Pension or Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement If you are aged between 66 and 70 and not getting one of the payments above, you may qualify for the Household Benefits Package if you pass a means test Qualifying social welfare payments if you are under 66: Disability Allowance Invalidity Pension Blind Pension Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Pension (for at least 12 months) Carer's Allowance (full or half-rate payment), but you must be living with the person you are caring for. An equivalent Social Security Pension or Benefit from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement What is covered by the Household Benefits Package? There are 2 allowances in the Household Benefits Package: Allowance 1 Electricity Allowance of €35 monthly (€1.15 per day) or Natural Gas Allowance of €35 monthly (€1.15 per day) Allowance 2 Free Television Licence Electricity or Gas Allowance If you have an electricity and natural gas supply, you must choose between the Electricity Allowance and Gas Allowance. You can choose only one. The Allowance does not cover the cost of installing an electricity or natural gas supply to your home. Free Television Licence Once you qualify for the Household Benefits Package, you can get a Free Television (TV) Licence from your next TV Licence renewal date. To get your Free TV Licence, you must select the Television Licence option on the HBP form when you apply. You can find out more about it here. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.

Shocking reason you should never tie ribbon on your suitcase to help identify it – it may not even make the flight
Shocking reason you should never tie ribbon on your suitcase to help identify it – it may not even make the flight

The Sun

time03-07-2025

  • The Sun

Shocking reason you should never tie ribbon on your suitcase to help identify it – it may not even make the flight

FLIGHT experts are warning travelers not to use a popular bag-tracking method, as it may cause more harm than good. Experts are urging flyers not to tie a ribbon around the handles of their suitcases. 1 A baggage handler, who goes by the name John, warned that tying a ribbon on the handle may cause issues with the bag being scanned. 'Ribbons that people tie onto their suitcases to help identify them can cause issues with the bag being scanned in the baggage hall,' he told RSVP Live. 'If the bag can't be scanned automatically, it can end up in manual processing, which could mean your bag doesn't make it to the flight.' The handler also told flyers to take off old stickers on the bag and place your suitcase wheels up for less damage. As for snacks, John told travelers not to pack marzipan in their bags. 'Don't ever pack Marzipan in your luggage,' he said. 'It has the same density as some explosives, so your bag will be removed and you'll be called from the plane for a bag search.' Another flying expert warned passengers about the type of suitcase they choose to check in. Emilie, a flight attendant of 16 years, told retailer House of Fraiser that travelers should never check a hard-covered suitcase. "Passengers tend to think that hard-shell suitcases are more resistant than fabric ones, but it's actually the opposite. Four countries Americans can fly to without needing a passport – and popular vacation choice where no visa is needed "Hardcovers can get easily broken by the pressure of the other bags once they're all packed together in the hold." The flight attendant added, "To avoid damage to your bag, I always recommend choosing a fabric suitcase as these are actually more durable. "Picking one in a bright colour can help you spot your bag more quickly during baggage delivery. Just avoid white as it won't stay that colour for long!" She also recommends going for a two-wheeled suitcase over a four-wheeled one. What to do if you luggage is lost, delayed, or damaged IT is an awful experience when your baggage does not appear on the carousel. However, travelers can take steps to get their bags back. What if baggage is delayed? If your bag doesn't show up at your destination, make sure to speak to the nearest airline representative. Airlines have a system that tracks where bags are and can see whether luggage has ever left an airport. After getting as much information as possible from the representative, passengers can file a claim. Once the bag is located, airlines will either deliver it straight to a flier's door or send it to the nearest airport. What if baggage is lost? Fliers should stay in close contact with airlines throughout the search for their bags. Sometimes, airlines will tell lucky passengers their bags are gone for good. Most airlines will declare a bag lost between five and fourteen days after the flight, but this can vary. Airlines are responsible for compensating travelers for lost bags' contents as long as it doesn't surpass maximum liability limits. Airlines must also reimburse any fees that fliers paid out for a bag to be transported if it was found. What if a bag is damaged? Airlines are also required to pay back customers for bags' contents that were damaged during flight. However, the airline won't take responsibility for items that were destroyed because the luggage was improperly packed. Most airlines also won't reimburse cash, electronics, fragile items, and perishables. Anyone who has a bag damaged during flight should file a claim and discuss whether they can get a refund. "[Four-wheeled suitcases] are never as durable or reliable as a two-wheel spinner and I'd always avoid them." One TikToker, who goes by the username @allycase1, warned travelers to be aware of a common luggage tag faux pas. In the video, the flight attendant shows a luggage tag with contact information written on it. 'Always make sure that your luggage tag has the contact information facing the other side,' she said in the video. 'I see so many people with their luggage tag and their information displayed for everyone to see. 'Their name, their address, their phone number, their email. That is way too much information for just anyone to have.' She recommends just flipping personal information to the other side so its not out on display. 'In the event that your bag is ever lost, whoever has your bag is going to take out the tag and flip it to the other side.'

All of the cost of living money changes set to take effect in July
All of the cost of living money changes set to take effect in July

Irish Daily Mirror

time01-07-2025

  • Business
  • Irish Daily Mirror

All of the cost of living money changes set to take effect in July

Four money changes are set to take effect for Irish households throughout July. Two eligible groups are in line for payments, with applications now open for one group for a much-needed scheme, while an increase is set to come into effect for another, RSVP Live reports. Those renting a house or apartment and people who drive certain commercial vehicles will also be set for some changes. Here is everything you need to know about any money-related changes happening for the month of July. New Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) rules came into effect for all private and student-specific accommodation tenancies in Ireland on June 20, 2025. As per the new rules, landlords are only able to increase rent once a year by either the rate of inflation or by two per cent, whichever is lowest. You can read more information about the new rules here. Applications for the 2025 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance opened up for eligible households in June - with payments for the scheme being made from the week starting Monday, 14 July. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a once-off social welfare payment made to eligible families to assist them with the cost of sending their children back to school. The rate of payment for 2025 is €160 for children aged 4 - 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second-level education. You can find out more about the payment here. Starting in July 2025, the Carer's Allowance income disregard will increase to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. The weekly social welfare payment is made to people who care for someone because of their age, disability or illness (including mental illness). To qualify for the payment, your income must be below a certain amount. If you care for two or more people, your rate of Carer's Allowance is increased by 50 per cent (maximum) each week. If you get another social welfare payment, you may get half-rate Carer's Allowance. You can find out more information here. Starting from July 1, 2025, an emissions-based approach to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is being introduced. From this date, an eight per cent rate of tax will apply for category B vehicles with CO2 emissions of less than 120 grams per kilometre and vehicles with CO2 emissions greater than 120g/km will be at 13.3 per cent. Category B includes commercial vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week

Social welfare payment of €250 available to workers on top of wages
Social welfare payment of €250 available to workers on top of wages

Dublin Live

time30-06-2025

  • Business
  • Dublin Live

Social welfare payment of €250 available to workers on top of wages

Part-time workers may not realise that they can claim an additional payment on top of their wages, provided they meet certain criteria. The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme is designed to allow those receiving Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) to take up part-time work and receive a special weekly allowance in place of their jobseeker's payment. The scheme aims to serve as a stepping stone towards full-time employment. Here's all the information you need about the scheme and who can apply for it. Who is eligible for the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme? You can participate in the PTJI Scheme if you get part-time work for less than 24 hours per week and immediately before that you were: On long-term Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) for at least 312 days. Days of unemployment on Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) or the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment count towards the 312 days if you were getting JB immediately before you got Jobseeker's Allowance. Getting a weekly JA payment of at least €154.60 if you are single or €252.10 if you are getting an increase for a qualified adult. You must also undertake to remain on the scheme for 2 months. You can do more than one part-time job but the total hours worked must be less than 24. The part-time job you get must be likely to last at least 2 months and be insurable at PRSI Class A or J, reports RSVP Live. Initially, you can stay on the PTJI scheme for one year. This may be extended for a further period. While on the scheme, you must continue to look for full-time work. If you get full-time work but then lose it, and get another part-time job, you can return to your original Part-Time Job Incentive claim if you meet all the PTJI conditions. The Part-Time Job Incentive will only remain in payment for the duration that has not been used previously. How much can I claim on the scheme? Instead of your usual payment, you will get a weekly allowance of: €154.60 per week if you are single €252.10 per week if you are getting an increase for a qualified adult There are no increases in these rates for qualified children. The allowance is paid regardless of how much you earn in your job. The allowance is not taxable. However, your wages will be taxable in the usual way. How to apply Once you have secured the part-time job, you should contact your Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office to apply for the PTJI scheme. You will be asked to complete the application form PTJI1 (pdf) and give details of your part-time employment. You can read more information on the application details here. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .

Kevin Penrose has received a huge number of messages from other LGBTQ+ sports
Kevin Penrose has received a huge number of messages from other LGBTQ+ sports

Irish Daily Mirror

time29-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Irish Daily Mirror

Kevin Penrose has received a huge number of messages from other LGBTQ+ sports

Kevin Penrose, the GAA player and online influencer, has been inundated with messages of support from fellow LGBTQ+ individuals in rural Ireland since he bravely came out as gay. He's been candid about his journey, discussing how he distanced himself from sports while grappling with his sexual identity. Highlighting the significance of proper education and challenging inappropriate language, Kevin expressed his newfound joy in playing football again. Kevin told RSVP Live: "It has been three years since I came out. When I first came out I got a lot of messages locally, people saying congratulations and well done. This year has been like coming out again, but this time to the nation. "I have gotten an amount of messages from lads in rural communities who have been through the same journey, or are going through it. It puts it all into perspective about how common my story is and how people don't talk about it. "It is nice when people message and ask for advice, it is no longer my story, it is their story as well. "Hopefully more people will feel more comfortable to come forward and share their own stories. I feel like coming out is the last taboo subject within the GAA." Kevin wanted to share his experience to help other people in similar situations, but comments sections of social media have asked why he feels the need to "come out" and why he doesn't focus on GAA. He explained: "People ask why I have to come out and talk about my sexuality and not just play the sport. They don't see the other side of it and the experiences I had. "I had to drop out because I didn't feel comfortable in that environment and I couldn't play to my full potential on the pitch. "You see the same comments over and over online, but have these people even read the article or listened to the podcast. They see a headline and they just jump on it. "They haven't taken the time to understand the story. They think nobody will see their comment. "The only place I see comments like that is on Facebook, it is not the same on Instagram or TikTok. If that person saw you in the street they wouldn't come up and say it to your face." Does he face much negativity online? "I have been on social media for years, so I don't look for it or maybe I am immune to it. "You could end up down a dark rabbit hole. Most of the time it is a blank profile. If you engage with them it is unlikely they will change their minds." Once Kevin came out, his friends and teammates reached out to him. He said: "My closest friends said, 'Sorry you felt like that and we couldn't help, sorry you were suffering in silence.' I distanced myself from them and fell off the radar and, for them, they felt sad that I couldn't open up to them and come to them with my problems. "I grew up with them and played with them week in, week out, so to go from that to no contact was hard. "Everyone has been encouraging and they have reassured me that there is nothing to worry about." Kevin has been able to call people out for using offensive language and he understands that it all comes down to education. The Tyrone man said: "People who used terminology in the changing rooms or who engaged in conversations that might be seen as banter have apologised a few times. It comes down to a lack of education and experience. "I am the first gay player in the club so they are wondering how to navigate that. They don't know what is right and what is wrong in terms of making me feel comfortable. "I told them it is okay to ask questions and to open up conversations. When I first went back playing there were times where I had to call out some of the lads for their language, but they didn't realise they were wrong. "I think that comes from years of not being called out. It is completely now, the comments and wrong language are non existent on the pitch and off the pitch. "They are a lot more mindful and respectful, which is good. Hopefully that will continue with the younger generations coming up." Kevin feels so much happier now he is back playing for his club Aghyaran again. He said: "Back then, I was there physically, but I wasn't there mentally. I wasn't playing to my full potential. It got to the stage at age 17 and 18 where I was trying to make an impression with the senior team, but I was working for years and I wasn't getting the recognition or starting team. "I wasn't getting game time. My first thought was to tell myself that I wasn't a good footballer. I know myself that I was a good footballer. "I remember being nervous on my first session when I came back. My worries were gone though, I was just there to play football and I was thinking about what anyone was saying about me. "I didn't feel like I needed to act in any way or talk about certain things just to fit it. I have worked very hard to get my starting position on the senior team and I haven't looked back since." Kevin is gearing up for a busy Pride weekend in Dublin. He said: "I am just back from a few days in Connemara. I had football at the end of the week and then I travelled to Dublin for Pride this weekend. "I am hoping to make the parade if I am down in time and then I am going to the Mother Block Party." Kevin was speaking at the launch of SuperValu's new limited edition Pride themed Bag for Life, which is on sale this month in outlets nationwide. All of the profits will be donated to Belong To, the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation. He said: "SuperValu have worked with the GAA on campaigns for a number of years now. This one with Belong To fits perfectly with my story of coming out as gay. "Belong To is a fantastic service and it's something I wish I knew about and had access to when I was growing up. I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to be part of the campaign so I can amplify and share my story. "Hopefully someone else can take courage from it and navigate their own journey."

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