Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
134. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the amendments to the Household Means Policy of March 2021 allow for recent changes in circumstance to be taken into account; his views on whether these amendments mean that persons with significant time on the housing list are being struck-off the list entirely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46425/21]
View answer165. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have discretion in their application of the recent changes to the household means policy issued in March 2021. [46426/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 165 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. Rent Supplement is a short-term income support for people in the private rented sector. If there has been a recent change in a households circumstance and the household requires short term support with their rent, it is open to them to make application for rent supplement. It remains open to that household to apply for social housing support at any stage, subject to meeting the eligibility and need criteria at the point at which they apply.
The documentation required with regard to proof of income is set out in the social housing application form. A degree of discretion is permitted to the local authorities as to the extent of documentation the authority deems necessary to ascertain a household’s average income over the preceding 12 months in order to satisfy themselves of the household’s true income pattern.
Under Regulation 28 of the Assessment Regulations, a household’s qualification for support may be reviewed at the discretion of a local authority or where the authority becomes aware of changes in household circumstances and Regulation 29 provides that the household’s qualification for support shall be reassessed at the point of allocation of support. If upon review, a household is found to exceed the limits on income eligibility grounds, for example, they would be removed from the list.
Furthermore, authorities are also required, when directed by the Minister, to undertake a statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) to count the number of households on the waiting list for social housing supports whose need has not yet been met. The SSHA process requires all local authorities to review those households who are on their housing list but who are not currently in receipt of housing support.
The oversight and management of the lists of qualified households awaiting accommodation is a matter for the relevant local authority. 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.
