Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
192 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be reinstated to previous rent allowance payment, who is currently on a community employment scheme payment €182.20 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11054/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe South Western Area Health Board has advised that payment of rent supplement is being revised as a consequence of the increased level of household income arising from participation, by the person concerned, in a community employment scheme. This person who is in receipt of a one-parent family payment may retain that payment in addition to her community employment payment.
Under standard supplementary welfare allowance rules, rent supplements, which are subject to a means test, are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution, currently €13, which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.
In addition to the minimum contribution, recipients are also required to contribute, towards their rent, any additional assessable means that they have over and above the appropriate basic supplementary welfare allowance rate. Up to €50 per week of income from part-time employment may be disregarded in this means test.
People on community employment schemes may retain a portion of their rent supplement for up to four years subject to a gross household income limit of €317.43 per week. The supplement may be retained at 75% in year one, 50% in year two and 25% in years three and four.
A participant in community employment may opt to be assessed in accordance with that tapered withdrawal system or standard supplementary welfare allowance rules and will be entitled to whichever option is more beneficial. In this case the board has advised that, as the level of household income exceeds the €317.43 limit applicable to the tapered withdrawal system, the amount of rent supplement to be put into payment has been calculated in accordance with standard supplementary welfare allowance rules. By participating in a community employment scheme the person's net income increases by €50 per week. Payment of rent supplement at the revised rate will be made shortly.
