Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2013
56. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will run a public information campaign to highlight to landlords, whose tenants are in receipt of rent supplement, that it is illegal to demand an under the counter and or undeclared top-up payment. [25730/13]
View answerThere are currently approximately 86,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013. 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 “top up” payments referred to fall into two specific categories. Where a person has an additional income 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. There has been no evidence presented to the Department showing widespread or systemic ‘false declarations’ of rent supplement through the use of illegal top-ups. The tenant, landlord or landlord’s agent must complete the rent supplement application form, which includes the amount of rent, and declare that the information provided is correct and accurate. The Department’s form clearly states that making a false statement or withholding information may lead to prosecution. I currently have no plans to run a public information campaign to highlight to landlords that it is illegal to demand an undeclared top-up payment but I have asked the Department to keep the matter under review.
The Department, in June 2012, introduced powers of inquiry (Section 14 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012) for staff to formally request and oblige landlords to provide information in respect of rent supplement tenants, principally to verify the agreed rent and existence of the tenancy. This measure improves both the governance and oversight arrangements in place. Any instance of false declarations should be reported to the relevant Department representatives who have specific legislative powers to deal with such offences.
