Vol. 516 No. 5
225 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if separated fathers are precluded from obtaining rent allowance related to their need to provide accom modation for their children where they have formally, or informally, joint custody of those children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8518/00]
Under the supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme, a weekly supplement may be paid in respect of rent to eligible people in receipt of social welfare or health board payments. Entitlement to a supplement is determined by the health boards and supplements are normally calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent or mortgage interest, has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to the family circumstances, less £6. This £6 represents the minimum contribution which rent supplement recipients are required to pay from their own resources. Applicants are also required to contribute any assessable means in excess of the appropriate SWA rate.
An application for a rent supplement can be made by contacting the community welfare officer at a person's local health centre. Any person seeking a rent supplement must first satisfy the health board that they have a housing need that they are unable to meet from their own resources. In addition, the health board must be satisfied that the residence is reasonably suited to the residential and other needs of the claimant and that the rent payable is just and proper having regard to the nature, character and location of the residence.
Separated fathers are not precluded from obtaining rent supplement where they have custody or joint custody and they need to provide accommodation for their children. In a case where a separated couple have joint custody of a child, the requirements of both parents in respect of having adequate accommodation to look after the child are taken into account when an application for a rent supplement is made. In these cases, documentation is required showing the joint custody arrangement before a decision could be made. Each case is individually assessed on its merits.
There are no formal custody arrangements in place in the case that it is understood the Deputy has in mind. The children reside with the mother who is in receipt of rent supplement for the accommodation needs of herself and the two children. The father resides within 75 yards of the residence of the children and in the circumstances the health board refused to award a rent supplement for the father to accommodate the children. The health board appeals officer has upheld this decision. The person in question has recently appealed the decision to the social welfare appeals office.
226 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend the back to education and third level allowance to students under the age of 21 who are in receipt of a one parent family allowance. [8595/00]
The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities to improve their skills and qualifications with a view to returning to the workforce.
To qualify for participation an applicant must, inter alia, be at least 21 years of age prior to commencing an approved course of study except for recipients of disability allowance and blind person's pension where an age limit of 18 years applies. The age requirement has been a feature of the scheme since it was introduced in 1990. It was reduced to 21 years since then. Bearing in mind the nature of the scheme it would not be appropriate for it to be generally available at a lower age.
Further improvements to the scheme are planned from September 2000. From that date the allowance will be available to recipients of invalidity pension, unemployability supplement and to persons previously in receipt of the carer's allowance.
