Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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462. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to increase the savings exemption limit of €5,000 for persons with a disability in receipt of rent allowance in line with the cost of living increase since it was last raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54093/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The system of social assistance supports, and the means tests associated with these schemes, are used to determine a verifiable income need and ensure that resources are targeted to those who need them most.

As part of the means assessment for Rent Supplement, the value of capital is used in the calculation of means. Capital includes savings, investments and property, excluding the family home. Capital is assessed for rent supplement as follows:

Disregard first €5,000 of capital.

Assess next €10,000 @ €1 per €1,000.

Assess next €25,000 @ €2 per €1,000.

Assess remaining capital over €40,000 @ €4 per €1,000.

Rent Supplement, a Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme, provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs, and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

The capital assessment rules reflect Supplementary Welfare Allowance’s role for support as a ‘last resort’. Rent Supplement’s capital assessment rules ensures that those who need assistance with their rent are met and those with additional resources provide a larger contribution.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. HAP is available in all local authority areas.

The Department also continues to implement a targeted case-by-case flexible payment policy approach – the National Tenancy Sustainment Framework - which allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits. Included within this Framework is the additional assistance required by persons with disabilities who require specially modified accommodation.

Any changes to the capital means test would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.