I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 57 together.
Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 67,000 people at a total cost of €298 million. Over 10,000 new tenancies have been processed since the start of the year, showing that landlords are accommodating persons under the scheme.
Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant. The tenant’s engagement with the Department usually takes place after the tenant has reached an agreement with the landlord. The Department must verify the existence of a valid tenancy before a claim can be processed. Where all the necessary information is available every effort is made to ensure that rent supplement claims are processed as quickly as possible. It should be noted that under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), responsibility for new applicants with long-term housing needs transfers from this Department to the local authorities. HAP is now being rolled out in 13 local authority areas with further roll-out scheduled later in the year. I have no plans to amend the conditions of the rent supplement scheme at this time.
As previously advised to the Deputy, rent supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA), is a statutory means-tested scheme which is payable at differentiated rates of payment, taking into account the applicant’s means and accommodation requirements. All income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property (other than the home) and capital are assessable as means. This includes means derived from a cash settlement following separation, including that in lieu of the family home. In the case of rent supplement, the person living in the family home would not qualify for the scheme as their accommodation needs are being met.
The combination of the means test and awarding differentiated rates of payment is premised on ensuring that social welfare payments are paid to those most in need.