Trevor Sargent
Question:77 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason students living away from home can be refused rent allowance.
Written Answers. - Extension of Rent Supplement to Students.
Under legislation, supplementary welfare allowance is not payable to persons in full-time education except in exceptional circumstances. However, participants in "second chance" educational schemes for long term unemployed people and lone parents schemes may retain their basic social welfare payment and their secondary benefits such as rent supplements under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for the duration of the course. Payment of rent supplements to all students would have serious financial implications.