Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
554. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider fast tracking the housing assistance payment scheme in local authorities in which there is a backlog of over 20 weeks for receiving the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30552/21]
View answerDespite the challenges faced throughout 2020 due to the Covid emergency measures, local authorities and the Housing Assistance Payment Shared Service Centre (HAP SSC) have continued to provide a critical service to all HAP customers. This is evident in the high number of HAP tenancies that have continued to be set-up.
Measures that were required to be taken in the context of Covid-19 did, however, have an impact on processing times for HAP applications, particularly in Q2 2020 with an average processing time of 40 days at that time. By end Q1 2021 the average processing time had reduced to 35 days.
The HAP application form comes in two parts, Section A to be completed by the applicant tenant and Section B to be completed by the landlord or agent. An application for HAP will only be accepted by the local authority when both Section A and Section B are completed, signed and returned, along with the required supporting documentation. Any delay in tenants and landlords supplying this information will impact on the processing time of the HAP application. The earliest date a HAP payment to the landlord will apply from is the date a complete and valid HAP application has been received by the local authority.
Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP SSC. HAP application processing times within local authorities may vary. If there are delays at the processing stage within a local authority, payment to the landlord may be backdated to the date on which a complete and valid application form was received by the local authority. The landlord is therefore not penalised for any delay.
The HAP SSC manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is then processed by the HAP SSC. On average, HAP applications are processed by the HAP SSC within 2-3 working days of receipt. Any rental payment arising for a given month will then be made to a landlord on the last Wednesday of that month.
Data on processing times is set out below:
|
Q1 2020 |
Q2 2020 |
Q3 2020 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2021 |
|
|
Average processing time |
35 |
40 |
38 |
38 |
35 |
|
Number of HAP tenancies processed (per quarter) |
3,942 |
3,883 |
4,062 |
3,998 |
3,914 |
Through our ongoing engagement with local authorities my Department has stressed the need to minimise delays in processing these vital applications to ensure the social housing needs of tenants can be met through the HAP scheme where required. My Department is closely monitoring this situation and will continue to do so over the coming months.
