Michael Ring
Question:129 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who suffers from Down's Syndrome was refused the free electricity allowance. [25238/98]
Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.
To qualify for free electricity allowance, a person must be the registered consumer of electricity where he/she is residing and must fulfil the "living alone" condition of the scheme. This requires that the person must be actually living alone or living only with persons who come within certain excepted categories.
The person concerned is living with her cousin, his wife and family. She does not fulfil the living alone condition of the scheme because her cousin does not come within any of the excepted categories.
It would be open to the person concerned to apply to the health board in her area for possible support under the "exceptional needs" provisions for the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
Róisín Shortall
Question:130 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to deal with the difficulties many tenants experience with the maximum rent allowance available to them under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this amount is unrealistic for many in view of the present buoyancy in the private rented sector; if he will make improving provisions in this regard a priority for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25306/98]
The purpose of rent supplements is to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible persons living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. Rent supplements are normally calculated to ensure that the person, after the payment of rent has an income equal to the SWA rate less £6. This £6 represents the minimum contribution which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.
Each health board is required to set reasonable maximum rent levels for various household types as a basis for calculating the maximum amount of rent supplement payable in each area under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The limits are set by the health board using local knowledge as to what constitutes a reasonable rent for private rented accommodation for various household types within and across the health board area.
Health boards must satisfy themselves that accommodation is generally available within these limits and, in that regard, they take into account information received from local auctioneers and letting agents concerning average rents charged in the area.
These maximum rent levels are reviewed regularly to take account of the actual fluctuations in accommodation costs observed in each area. In addition, if a tenant is experiencing difficulties, the health boards have discretion to award a supplement based on an amount of rent which exceeds the maximum level set where there are extenuating medical or social circumstances having regard to the applicant's means and all the other requirements of the legislation.
The rent limits in operation in the Eastern Health Board (EHB) were applied with effect from 1 January 1998. The EHB is currently reviewing these limits and will be proposing increases with effect from 1 January 1999.