Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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436. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she has identified the hardship caused in circumstances in which various payments are cut off, in some cases leading to homelessness; her plans to amend the system to avoid further homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33498/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting some 41,200 recipients for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017.

Continued entitlement to rent supplement is not linked to entitlement to other social welfare schemes, however the rent supplement claim may be reviewed following a decision to suspend or disallow a primary social welfare payment as there may be a change to the claimant’s circumstances that could affect eligibility. During a review of a rent supplement claim, the Community Welfare Service (CWS) officer will engage with the claimant to establish continued eligibility as quickly as possible and limit any delay to payments. Any person in this situation is encouraged to contact the Department’s CWS office responsible for their rent supplement claim to discuss their situation, if there is a specific risk of homelessness this should be communicated to the CWS officer at the earliest opportunity.

I can assure the Deputy that every effort is made so that rent supplement tenants are supported by my Department ensuring where possible that they can remain in their homes. In view of the ongoing difficulties in the rental market, my Department provides a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits, which were increased in July 2016. In addition, the Protocol arrangement in place with Threshold is operational in the areas where supply issues are particularly acute covering Kildare, Dublin, Cork, Meath, Wicklow and Galway City. Since the introduction of this flexible approach, over 11,800 tenants at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased rent supplement payments.

Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to a basic weekly SWA payment, due to their primary payment being suspended / discontinued, or an ENP to address their immediate housing commitments should contact the Community Welfare Service of the Department at their local Intreo centre.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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437. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will take steps to ensure that persons applying for means-tested social protection payments following family law settlement in respect of the family home are not forced to spend the entire proceeds of their settlement before being awarded rent support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33499/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department operates a range of statutory means tested schemes, taking account of the income a claimant has in terms of cash, property (other than the family home) and capital. The combination of the means test and awarding differentiated rates of payment is premised on ensuring that social welfare payments are paid to those most in need and reflects the position that persons with reasonable amounts of income, capital and property are in a position to use that resource to support themselves.

The rent supplement scheme is supporting some 41,200 tenants for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017. The scheme is generally available to people whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and do not have alternative accommodation available. Rent supplement’s means test is calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to their family circumstances less a minimum contribution which recipients are required to pay. The standard weekly minimum contribution is €30 for a single adult household and €40 for coupled households. Many recipients pay more than this amount because recipients are required, subject to income disregards, to contribute a proportion of assessable means towards their accommodation costs. As part of this means test, a capital assessment is completed which includes savings, investments, property (other than the family home) and would include any monies realised following a settlement.

The Deputy will be aware that the strategic policy direction of the Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support with the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, which is available nationally since 1st March 2017.

The Department has no role in financial and other settlements made between couples on separation, divorce or otherwise. Any capital owned by a person involved in such a settlement is assessed in the normal way for the purposes of means tested schemes and the appropriate disregards apply. I have no plans to change these conditions at this time.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.