Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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552. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for payment of rent supplement arrears in the case of a person (details supplied); if an oral hearing can be facilitated in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27775/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of rent supplement is to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible persons living in private rented accommodation, where they are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.

The person concerned was in receipt of rent supplement since 12/12/2016 at a monthly rate of €861.29 with a total of €8,613 paid to December 2017. On 6/9/2017, a letter was issued to the person concerned advising their claim was under review and to return requested documents within 14 days to avoid suspension to payment. The review form SWA 3A states “Failure to return the form (fully completed) by the date specified may result in your payment being suspended/withdrawn without further notice”. As documents were not returned, payment was suspended. On 8/1/2018, a second letter was issued to the person concerned advising them that given their circumstances they could nominate the rent supplement payment to be paid directly to the landlord. To date, form SWA 3A, verification of rent paid in September 2017, November 2017 or December 2017 has not been received as requested.

On 28/3/18, the person concerned forwarded a copy of a determination they had received from the landlord. On the 9/5/18, the landlord contacted this Department to advise the person concerned had left the property following an enforcement notice. As is procedure, rent supplement was closed at the address. Notification of cessation of claim could not be issued to the person concerned as their whereabouts was not known at that time.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.