The position remains as advised in Parliamentary Questions 320 and 168 which I answered for the Deputy on the 12 and 28 May 2009 respectively. The Executive has advised that rent supplement was refused as total household income was deemed to be sufficient to meet the accommodation costs of the person concerned. He appealed against this decision to an Appeals Officer of the Executive but that appeal was unsuccessful. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer's decision on 19 February 2009 and advised of a further right of appeal to the Chief Appeals Officer of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. No such appeal has been received to date.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements. This parliamentary question has been accepted as an appeal to the Chief Appeals Officer of the Department, on behalf of the person concerned who will be in contacted by the Appeals Office and requested to outline in writing the specific grounds of his appeal.