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.
In order to qualify for Rent Supplement an applicant must first satisfy the habitual residence condition and pass a means test. Furthermore they must prove that the accommodation is suitable for their needs, and the rent is at or below the prescribed maximum rent levels.
Rent supplements 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 family circumstances less a minimum weekly contribution, currently €24, which recipients are required to pay from their own resources. Many recipients pay more than the minimum contribution because they are also required, subject to income disregards, to contribute any additional assessable means that they have over and above the appropriate basic SWA rate towards their accommodation costs.
The existing rent supplement assessment provides for a gradual withdrawal of payment as earnings increase. In recent years improvements have been made to the means test to encourage eligible people to engage in employment without losing their entire rent supplement. Those availing of part-time employment and/or training opportunities can continue to receive rent supplement subject to their satisfying the standard means assessment rules.
Where a person has additional income in excess of the standard weekly rate of supplementary welfare allowance, the first €75 of such additional income together with 25% of any additional income above €75 is disregarded for means assessment purposes. This ensures that those returning to work or participating in training schemes are better off as a result of taking up such an opportunity.
The following conditions also apply:
1. The applicant must be assessed in the last 12 months by a local authority as being eligible for and in need of social housing, or;
2. Living in accommodation for homeless people for 6 months (183 days) out of the last 12 months, or;
3. Living in private rented accommodation for 6 months (183 days) out of the last 12 months, or;
4. Be a tenant of accommodation provided under one of the Social Housing Schemes in operation.
Rent Supplement is not payable if the applicant:
1. Is in full-time employment, that is, employment for 30 hours per week or more. (In the case of couples, if one of the couple is in full time employment both are excluded from claiming Rent Supplement). or;
2. Has refused a second offer of local authority accommodation in a 12-month period, or;
3. Has left a local authority housing without reasonable cause, or;
4. Is attending full-time education. A person may retain or obtain rent supplement if they are entitled to a Back to Education Allowance or participating in the Back to Education Programme.
Each application for rent supplement is determined by a community welfare officer taking account of the relevant legislative provisions and on the basis of the merits of each individual case.