Seán Ardagh
Question:518 Mr. Ardagh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will award rent allowance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10. [5908/04]
View answerTuesday, 24 February 2004
Questions (416)
Written answers
Subject to certain conditions, the supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation needs and who do not have accommodation available from any other source.
Rent supplements are subject to a means test and are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution, currently €13. In addition to the minimum contribution each applicant is required to contribute towards his or her rent any additional assessable means that he or she may have over and above the appropriate rate of basic supplementary welfare allowance.
The South Western Area Health Board was contacted on behalf of the individual in question and has advised that she submit an application form for rent supplement at the local health centre on 6 November 2003. She was asked to provide documentation relating to her financial circumstances so that an assessment of her means could be carried out. To date she has not provided the documentation sought and accordingly the board has advised that, at present, it is not in a position to determine the level, if any, of assistance payable in this particular case.
The board has further advised that if the person in question supplies the outstanding documentation her application will be processed at the earliest opportunity.