asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he approves the practice of community welfare officers in reducing rent allowance whenever a claimant moves to a higher rate of welfare by an amount equal to the increase; and if he will direct community welfare officers to desist from negating welfare increases by this practice.
Written Answers. - Rent Allowances.
38.
Where a person is receiving a basic weekly payment of supplementary welfare allowance the payment may be increased by a supplement in respect of rent. The amount of the rent supplement is determined by the health board. However, the maximum rent supplement payable in this case is the amount of the rent less £3, leaving the person with a net income after rent of the basic supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his family circumstances, less £3. The amount of rent supplement is not affected by increases in the basic supplementary welfare allowance payment.
A rent supplement may also be paid where a person is in receipt of a higher basic payment than supplementary welfare allowance. The maximum supplement in this case is the amount which would leave the person with the same net income as in the other case, namely, the basic level of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to the family circumstances, less £3.
Under these arrangements a person who changes from a lower basic payment such as supplementary welfare allowance to a higher payment would be entitled to a lower rent supplement. The net income in each case would however be the same. These arrangements ensure that all applicants for rent supplements are treated fairly.