Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

579. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date regarding a request from a person (details supplied); and the policies in place within the administration of the welfare system to notice and correct situations in which a partner may be withholding payments following the breakdown of a relationship or in which there is evidence or suspicion of domestic abuse. [10160/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment for certain people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources.

Rent Supplement is generally paid to the person who has made the application. If there is evidence that payments are being withheld following the breakdown of a relationship, it is standard practice that the claim is reviewed.

According to my officials, the person concerned contacted my Department on 16/07/2020 and advised that there was a breakdown in the relationship with her partner. As the Rent Supplement payment was being paid to her former partner at this time, a SWA 22A form was sent to the person concerned to facilitate payment of the Rent Supplement to the bank account of the person concerned. The form was not returned to my Department so no further action could be taken.

On 23/12/20 the person concerned contacted my officials and advised that her former partner had moved from their home address 5 weeks previously. The Rent Supplement claim in her former partner’s name was closed and the person concerned was advised to complete a SWA RS1 form so that the claim could be reassessed based on a change in the family composition. On submission of a fully completed SWA RS1 form the claim will be assessed and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter.