Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2012
30 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a significant number of landlords across the State demand a top-up payment from their tenants receiving rent supplement; her views that this requires a policy level response; and the steps she will take. [4345/12]
View answer113 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection her views that the recent reductions in rent supplement may lead to landlords seeking more rent directly from the tenant; if tenants have any recourse if this occurs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4596/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 113 together.
There are currently almost 96,000 individuals in receipt of a rent supplement payment at a cost of some €500million to the State in 2011. Rent supplement is calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent, has an income equal to the basic supplementary welfare allowance rate, less a specified weekly minimum contribution which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.
The type of payments to which the Deputy refers are known as "top up" payments and fall into two specific categories. Where persons have an additional income from employment above the rate of supplementary welfare allowance they are, in certain circumstances, allowed to top up their rent as they will still have sufficient income to meet their basic needs after paying their rent. The second type of top up payment can occur where the application to the Department declares a rent lower than that actually being charged by the landlord. Any instance of false declarations should be reported to the relevant Department officials who have specific legislative powers to deal with such matters.
