Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to eligible persons 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. Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. Rent limits are set at levels that enable the different eligible household types to secure and retain basic suitable rented accommodation, having regard to the different rental market conditions that prevail in various parts of the State. The objective is to ensure that rent supplement is not paid in respect of overly expensive accommodation having regard to the size of the household and market conditions.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of rent supplement support at the maximum level available to him, based on his current personal circumstances and the area in which he is living. The person concerned has been advised by the Executive that his current circumstances do not warrant an increase in his rent supplement support payment. He has also been advised of his right of appeal to the Executive's designated Appeals Office, if he is not satisfied with the decision of the community welfare officer.