Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2019
454. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure no interruption occurs in respect of rent supplement in the case of a person (details supplied); the maximum rent support available in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22434/19]
View answerThe purpose of rent supplement is to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible persons living in private rental accommodation, where they are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. It is subject to a means test and other criteria.
Rent supplement payments are subject to on-going reviews and payments may be affected if relevant information is not provided, or if there are changes of circumstances. The person concerned is currently in receipt of a rent supplement payment. Information has been requested recently in relation to the provision of a current Housing Needs Assessment. Payment may be affected if the requested information is not provided.
The maximum rent limit for the family composition of the person concerned, a single person living in Kildare is €500 per calendar month. As an exceptional measure, under Article 38, the person concerned was awarded rent supplement based on a current lease of €970 per month. This is in excess of €470 or 94% of the maximum rent limits set for this family composition. The person concerned has been advised to engage with HAP and the local authority in order to have her long-term housing needs addressed. In line with these measures the person concerned was recently requested to supply a current Housing Needs Assessment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
