Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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198. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a matter regarding rent supplement in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [2543/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Departmental officials have discretionary powers under Article 38 of S.I. 412/2007 to award a supplement where it appears that the circumstances of the case so warrant and is of an exceptional nature. Such cases are examined on a case by case basis having regard to the situation presented. The person concerned was awarded rent supplement where the monthly rent is in excess of the prescribed rent limits, in order to prevent homelessness, under this legislation.

Rent supplement is subject to a means test which is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) appropriate to their family circumstances less a minimum contribution which recipients are required to pay from their own resources. The 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 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 rent supplement claim for the person concerned has been reviewed again. The means testing of the application showed that his family have a total weekly contribution of €140.70. The rent charged equates to €276.90 per week and their entitlement to rent supplement is calculated at €136.20 per week or €590.30 per calendar month. This calculation is correct and is in accordance with Social Welfare legislation. It is not possible to apply a different means test in order to reduce the persons’ contribution or increase the amount of rent supplement payable.