Chris Andrews
Question:1185. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if the period in which rent supplement payments can be backdated will be increased from the current limit of six months. [39650/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (1185)
Written answers
The rent supplement scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme provided support to 11,093 recipients as at the end of June 2022.
Since the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment, rent supplement is reverting to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy costs while they seek alternative employment. Responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need remains with local authorities.
Customers who establish an entitlement to rent supplement by satisfying the conditions of the scheme will receive payment from the date of application. There is a provision for the backdating of the claim for a period up to six months before the date of application where specific circumstances apply. There are no plans to extend this period of support beyond this time. Any decision to extend the period of back dating would need to be considered from within a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.