The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support, to eligible people 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.
Similarly, mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. Rent and mortgage interest supplement is subject to a means test which is normally calculated to ensure that, after payment of rent or mortgage interest, an eligible person has income equal to the rate of basic supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to their family circumstances, less a minimum contribution, currently €24, which each recipient is required to pay from his or her own resources. In accordance with the statutory qualifying conditions, rent supplement is normally paid for the duration of the period for which entitlement exists.
Rent supplements are subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. 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. Maximum rent limits are prescribed in regulations and are time limited so that they can be adjusted in the light of rent levels generally. Rent limits were reviewed earlier this year. In testing the level at which basic accommodation can be secured, the Department was informed by analysis of a number of data sources including data published by the CSO on trends in the private rental market. Rent limits and payments to existing rent supplement recipients were reduced to reflect the downward trends in the private rental market. A copy of the current maximum rent limits is attached.
Mortgage interest is defined in Section 187 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended). In accordance with this provision, a mortgage interest supplement may be paid on the full amount of interest payable, where the loan has been taken out for the purchase, repair or essential improvement of the sole or main residence of a person or to pay off another loan used for that purpose.
In addition, under Article 10 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Allowance) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 412 of 2007), a supplement towards mortgage interest may be payable where the Executive is satisfied that the amount of mortgage interest payable by the claimant does not exceed such amount as it considers reasonable to meet his or her residential and other needs and where the Executive considers it is reasonable to award a supplement having regard to the amount of any arrears outstanding on the loan. When considering if the amount of mortgage interest is reasonable to meet residential need, regard would normally be had to the household composition of the claimant and to the appropriate maximum rent limits in operation in that geographical area.
In accordance with the statutory qualifying conditions, mortgage interest supplement is normally paid for the duration of the period for which entitlement exists. In exceptional circumstances, the Health Service Executive may award a supplement where the amount of mortgage interest payable by a person exceeds such amount as the Health Service Executive considers reasonable to meet his or her residential needs. Such an exceptional supplement is payable for a maximum of 12 months from the date of the claim.
Maximum Rent Levels from 1st June 2009
|
Single person in shared accommodation
|
Couple in shared accommodation
|
Single person
|
Couple with no children
|
Couple with 1 child or one-parent family with 1 child
|
Couple with 2 children or one-parent family with 2 children
|
Couple with 3 children or one-parent family with 3 children
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
(6)
|
(7)
|
(8)
|
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
Dublin
|
92
|
92
|
122
|
186
|
930
|
1,110
|
1,110
|
Wicklow
|
92
|
92
|
122
|
177
|
880
|
1,110
|
1,110
|
Kildare
|
92
|
92
|
112
|
166
|
880
|
1,110
|
1,110
|
Longford
|
66
|
66
|
94
|
112
|
131
|
144
|
158
|
Westmeath
|
66
|
66
|
94
|
112
|
131
|
149
|
163
|
Offaly
|
66
|
66
|
94
|
112
|
131
|
149
|
163
|
Laois
|
66
|
66
|
94
|
112
|
131
|
149
|
163
|
Limerick
|
66
|
66
|
103
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
172
|
Tipperary North
|
66
|
66
|
94
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
172
|
Tipperary South
|
76
|
76
|
108
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
158
|
Clare
|
66
|
66
|
94
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
172
|
Louth
|
66
|
66
|
108
|
122
|
149
|
158
|
186
|
Monaghan
|
66
|
66
|
85
|
113
|
131
|
140
|
172
|
Cavan
|
66
|
66
|
85
|
113
|
131
|
140
|
172
|
Meath
|
66
|
66
|
108
|
131
|
163
|
177
|
186
|
Donegal
|
66
|
66
|
85
|
112
|
131
|
138
|
158
|
Leitrim
|
66
|
66
|
85
|
112
|
131
|
138
|
153
|
Sligo
|
66
|
66
|
94
|
112
|
140
|
158
|
158
|
Wexford
|
76
|
76
|
108
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
158
|
Waterford
|
76
|
76
|
108
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
158
|
Carlow
|
76
|
76
|
108
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
158
|
Kilkenny
|
76
|
76
|
108
|
122
|
140
|
158
|
158
|
Kerry
|
71
|
71
|
94
|
143
|
143
|
171
|
183
|
Cork
|
71
|
71
|
108
|
143
|
163
|
177
|
189
|
Mayo
|
66
|
66
|
108
|
108
|
163
|
180
|
180
|
Galway
|
66
|
66
|
108
|
131
|
163
|
186
|
186
|
Roscommon
|
66
|
66
|
108
|
108
|
163
|
180
|
180
|