Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will clarify where an application for an emergency additional needs’ payment to cover a deposit and or rent should be submitted; if this payment can be made to cover the first month’s rent as well as the deposit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8337/23]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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473. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how a person applying for an emergency additional needs’ payment for a deposit for rental accommodation can comply with the application process, which states that they must provide a copy of the HAP agreement from the local authority and a copy of the lease agreement for their new accommodation, as a landlord is not going to sign a lease agreement before they receive their deposit, and the first month’s rent and HAP agreements are not signed until a person has secured a property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8338/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENP) and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain Supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.

This important support is not restricted to those already on a social welfare payment and may also be available to those working on a low income.

A person applying for assistance with a deposit and/or first month’s rent can submit their ENP application together with relevant supporting documentation to their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. Claims are awarded at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.

In instances where a person is applying for assistance with a deposit and/or first month’s rent payment, amongst other supporting documentation they will be required to provide the following:

- Letter from the local housing authority confirming a HAP application has been received from the person or a letter from landlord/estate agent confirming the amount of the rent deposit.

- Full tenancy agreement – if available.

It is important to note that a claim can still be assessed in cases where a person confirms they have not yet received a tenancy agreement. A Community Welfare Officer will work with a person to explore other options that can establish the extent of the need.

As the Deputy will be aware, a protocol to assist victims of domestic violence has been established between my Department and Tusla. Under this protocol, where a person is a victim of domestic violence, they will be able to apply for Rent Supplement on referral by Tusla or by Tusla-funded service providers. The protocol provides for the fast tracking of Rent Supplement applications made under these circumstances. An ENP for a deposit and/or first month’s rent is also provided for under this protocol. ENP payments under the Domestic Violence Rent Supplement (DVRS) are managed by the National Rent Supplement Section.

The Place Finder Service is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies. The service assists homeless households in exiting emergency accommodation, primarily by sourcing suitable accommodation and by providing access to the payment of a deposit and advance rent, within the HAP limits, on the behalf of the HAP recipient.

Ordinarily it would be expected that as the Place Finder service is now active across the country, the need for recourse to the Community Welfare Service for assistance would decrease and applications for assistance with deposits and first month's rent would be where tenancies are secured outside of the national Place Finder service.

I trust this clarifies the matter.