Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the circumstances in which a person in employment may qualify for the family income supplement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7798/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the criteria for which a person may qualify by mortgage interest supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7799/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department. The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. In general a person may be entitled to a mortgage interest supplement provided that: Ø s/he is habitually resident in the State, Ø the loan agreement was entered into at a time when, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, the person was in a position to meet the repayments, Ø the residence in respect of which the loan is payable, is not offered for sale. Ø the mortgage interest payable does not exceed such amount as the Health Service Executive considers reasonable to meet his or her residential needs. In exceptional circumstances, a supplement may be awarded where the mortgage interest exceeds such amount as the Executive considers reasonable but such a supplement is payable for a maximum of 12 months only. Ø s/he satisfies a means test

Mortgage interest supplements are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of mortgage interest, 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 mortgage interest supplement assessment provides for a gradual withdrawal of payment as hours of employment or 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 mortgage interest supplement. Those availing of part-time employment and/or training opportunities can continue to receive mortgage interest 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. Each application for mortgage interest 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.

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the criteria by which a person may qualify for rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7801/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.