Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 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 baseline income eligibility thresholds were increased for all local authorities, with effect from 1 January 2023, by €5,000 to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The household means 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 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. While there are no plans to amend the policy at this time, all matters concerning social housing policy are constantly under review as part of our Department’s work on the broader social housing reform agenda. In that context, the Department continues to work on developing options for a potential revised or new social housing income eligibility model. It is expected that proposals will be submitted for consideration by the Minister when the analysis is completed.

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