Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
281. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the recent changes to household means policy 2021 issued in April take into account recent changes in circumstances; if not, if the net average income average over the past 52 weeks applies without discretion.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32523/21]
View answer282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a change in a person’s financial circumstances due to the impact of Covid-19 can be taken into account when assessing income criteria; if not, if the previous 52 weeks nett income must be considered. [32524/21]
View answer283. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the discretion councils can apply when assessing income limits regarding the qualifying criteria for inclusion on the social housing list. [32525/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 282 and 283 together.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
The determination of whether an applicant household meets the income criteria is based on a calculation of their preceding 12 months’ net average income prior to the date of receipt of application. This ensures that the most comprehensive picture of a household’s current and previous income is available at the point of carrying out the assessment.
Social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need and it is therefore important to note that where households are in need of short term support, such as Rent Supplement, they should make application to the Department of Social Protection.
In relation to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), Circular 38/2020 regarding the treatment of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) when assessing and/or reviewing income eligibility for social housing support was issued to local authorities. The Circular advises that the PUP payment should be considered as temporary in the overall context of an applicant household's income. In this regard, when assessing a household, the household’s income immediately prior to receipt of the PUP should be considered by the authority. Based on all of the available income information, the authority must then make a decision as to whether the household meets the income criteria.
Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.
