Question
Before I lost my job earlier this year I received my wages monthly. I’m now getting a social welfare payment weekly and find that this is making it more difficult for me to manage my household bills which come every two months. Is there a way to make more regular payments for my ESB and phone bills?

Answer
If you are getting your social welfare payment through the post office, you can take part in the Household Budget Scheme. Under the scheme, you choose a fixed amount to be deducted from your payment each week and this goes towards paying your bill from the ESB, Bord Gáis or Eircom. You can also use it for local authority rent or mortgage payments. It is intended to extend the scheme to include other telecom and utility bills.

You can take part in the Household Budget Scheme if you are getting Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Back to Education Allowance or Back to Work Allowance. The scheme is also available to those getting a social welfare pension, a carer’s payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Farm Assist.

You can choose to have up to a quarter of your social welfare payment deducted. The minimum deduction you can choose depends on the type of bill; for Eircom and ESB, for example, the minimum is €3.50.

The scheme is operated by An Post. You can get an application form in your local post office or online at www.anpost.ie. You complete this form for each eligible bill you want to pay and send it to the following address: Household Budget Scheme, Freepost, An Post, GPO, Dublin 1. If you want to change the amount you pay each week, you can do so by completing a form with the new amount and returning it to An Post. You can also get further information from An Post online at www.anpost.ie, at the address above or by phone on 1800 70 71 72.

If you need help with budgeting and managing your financial situation, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) provides free advice. There is useful information on the MABS website, www.mabs.ie, or you can contact the MABS Helpline at 1890 283 438. Many credit unions also provide a similar bill payment system.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below. Know Your Rights has been compiled by the Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Information is available online at www.citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, Lo-call 1890 777 121.