Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 328: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for a person in financial difficulty living in rented accommodation to apply for rent allowance although that person is not on a local authority housing waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9602/11]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 334: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is a requirement for eligibility to rent supplement that the applicant must be renting privately for six months or is it sufficient that the person has been assessed by the local authority in the past 12 months as being eligible for and in need of housing. [9760/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 334 together.

In order to qualify for rent supplement a person must have been residing in private rented accommodation or accommodation for homeless persons or an institution (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for rent supplement. A person may also qualify for rent supplement where an assessment of housing need has been carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and the person is deemed by the relevant local authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.

In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for rent supplement is referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by the local housing authority in the area where claim to rent supplement is made (and the person intends to reside). When a person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, the person then becomes eligible for consideration for rent supplement.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 329: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) did not qualify for rent allowance despite being on the local authority housing list and being only in receipt of jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9603/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In the timeframe available, I regret that the Department is not in a position to reply to this question. The Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.