Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2024
288. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the criteria pertaining to the assessment of means for eligibility for social housing and exclude payments under the working family payment which is available for some low paid workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4895/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different bands according to the area concerned, with income defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The policy provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities have discretion to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. All income from social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, including working family payment, is assessable.
The payments included in the Policy were last reviewed in 2021. As it was found that the majority of working family payment recipients are in receipt of the payment for more than one year, it was recommended that the working family payment should not be considered short term in nature and, therefore, should remain as assessable income.
However, my Department keeps the Household Means Policy under regular review in order to ensure that it continues to be appropriate.
In addition, following a review conducted by my Department in 2022, the Government agreed to my recommendation to increase the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Notwithstanding these changes, my Department is awaiting detailed research examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and population conditions and the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since it was introduced. This has been commissioned by the Housing Agency and I understand this work is near completion.
When it is available, my Department will undertake a further review, including consultation with stakeholders. This review will examine, inter alia, how the social housing income limits system interacts with other housing supports and ensure that they continue to target households correctly.
