Eamon Gilmore
Question:61 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his plans to carry out a new poverty proofing of the administration of rent allowance. [29721/00]
Written Answers. - Anti-Poverty Strategy.
The supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, scheme falls within the income maintenance framework which provides a safety net against poverty in that it gives a statutory entitlement to a minimum weekly payment, based on criteria set out in legislation. It also provides for the payment of supplements such as the rent supplement.
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 supplementary welfare allowance basic weekly payment 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 in respect of various classes of persons, e.g, single persons, couples, lone parents with one child, etc., as a basis for calculating the amount of rent supplement payable. The limits are set using local knowledge as to what constitutes a reasonable rent for private rented accom modation for various household types within and across the health board area.
The limits in all health board areas take into account information received from local auctioneers and letting agents regarding average rents charged in the area. These maximum rent levels are reviewed regularly by the boards to take account of the actual fluctuations in accommodation costs observed in each area. When accommodation is no longer available within these limits, rent levels are reviewed and revised upwards, at the initiative of the health boards, in the light of their experience in dealing with claims for rent supplement.
Health boards must also satisfy themselves that accommodation is generally available within the limits which they set. If any 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.
An interdepartmental committee is currently reviewing the scheme as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations. The current review is a fundamental appraisal of the scheme which will include all aspects of the administration of SWA including rent supplement.
I expect that the proposals of the interdepartmental committee will be finalised by the end of next year. All recommendations of this review will be formally poverty proofed to reflect the contribution SWA makes to reducing poverty.