To qualify for payment of rent supplement a person must have been residing in private rented accommodation for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for rent supplement. A person may also qualify for rent supplement where an assessment of housing need has been carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and the person is deemed by the relevant local authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.
In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for rent supplement is referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by the local housing authority in the area where the claim is made (and the person intends to reside). Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, does the person become eligible for consideration for rent supplement. Rent supplement is not payable while a housing needs assessment is being undertaken.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the rent supplement has been awarded from 16 November 2010 as the housing needs assessment provided by her local authority was dated 15 November 2010.