Thomas Gould
Question:832. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether bonuses in the form of share investment are included as reckonable income in social housing assessments. [1704/24]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
Questions (832, 833)
Thomas Gould
Question:833. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria under which a bonus can be included as reckonable income in social housing assessments. [1705/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 833 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 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 Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. In this context, local authorities will disregard overtime payments and bonuses paid in the relevant 12-month assessment period up to a maximum of 10% of the applicant household's annual basic income. Bonuses in the form of share investment would not be assessable.
The Household Means Policy can be viewed at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/.
Question No. 833 answered with Question No. 832.