Seán Sherlock
Ceist:1109. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if those who let a room to a student will be penalised in terms of their social welfare entitlements. [42846/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (1109)
Freagraí scríofa
First of all, for social protection benefits based on PRSI contributions, there is no means test so renting out a room would never affect a person's primary payment.
Because of the pressure on supply in certain areas of the country, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD and I introduced Regulations that allowed people on social assistance schemes to rent out rooms for accommodation purposes in their own home and keep their social welfare payment.
The Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 10) (Income Disregard) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 397 of 2022) and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 3) (Calculation of Means) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 396 of 2022) were signed on 12th of July 2022.
These regulations provide that certain income received (up to a maximum of €269.23 weekly which equates to €14,000 per annum) by renting out a room in their home to a person, who may or may not be a student, and who is not an immediate family member, will be disregarded in the assessment of means for the purposes of weekly social assistance payments, increases for qualified adults, Working Family Payment and Supplementary Welfare Allowance.