rent allowance info

jomc

hi, my sister is a single mother with one 4yo. she is living with our mother at the min and younger brother. she shares a room with her daughter. she is interested in getting her own place but works part time. how would she go about applying for rent allowance? Does she have to find a place first or get approved for the allowance first? and as she is working part tiime would that lower her possibility of getting the full amount? sorry for all questions, don't really know how it works. any info is appreciated

Kristopherus

She should go to her local Community Welfare Officer (CWO). She should also have at least reserved her accommodation at that stage, so that she would know the rent. She will have to disclose all income to the CWO, who should be able to calculate how much rent allowance she woud be entitled to. This area has been tightened up in the last 2 budgets, almost un-noticed. Have a look at www.welfare.ie as well.

jomc

thanks.

she was ooking at a house around the corner from my mothers for 1000. but the landord is undecided at accepting ra. the info on the web is a bit confusing. does she have to prove she could afford rent when she moved in and then couldn't to apply? Does she have to be on a county council housing list before she can get ra, or for a certain amount of time? how long would it take her to receive the ra from the time she applies?

Graces7

jomc wrote: »

thanks.

she was ooking at a house around the corner from my mothers for 1000. but the landord is undecided at accepting ra. the info on the web is a bit confusing. does she have to prove she could afford rent when she moved in and then couldn't to apply? Does she have to be on a county council housing list before she can get ra, or for a certain amount of time? how long would it take her to receive the ra from the time she applies?

She needs to go to her nearest Citizen;s info branch to be answered specifically.

She would have to pay a deposit and a month's rent anyway.

So she has to have that sorted and to have moved in yes. But do nto sign a lease until the landlord has agreed to RA

the time varies; a few weeks usually from applying.

She has to register with housing also as a formality.

TIME FRAME then;

- find a place where the landlord will accept RA.

- check with the CWO as some areas differ slightly. Get the forms from him and he will tell you what and when to do.

ie they cannot do it in a vacuum.

Has to be a specific exact address before they will process any application.

edellc

jomc wrote: »

thanks.

she was ooking at a house around the corner from my mothers for 1000. but the landord is undecided at accepting ra. the info on the web is a bit confusing. does she have to prove she could afford rent when she moved in and then couldn't to apply? Does she have to be on a county council housing list before she can get ra, or for a certain amount of time? how long would it take her to receive the ra from the time she applies?

Just to let you know 1000pm is too much rent the CWO will not accept that AFAIK the max rent paid in a month in dublin is 930 and you are not allowed to top it up CWO will ask for a lease agreement to confirm that it is not above that if you are outside dublin then the amount varies check with citizens advice the amounts
and you can only apply for rent allowance once you are in the property the CWO will come round and check it out also get her to apply to the housing list i think its a new requirement but it will do her no harm being on it anyway

Graces7

edellc wrote: »

Just to let you know 1000pm is too much rent the CWO will not accept that AFAIK the max rent paid in a month in dublin is 930 and you are not allowed to top it up CWO will ask for a lease agreement to confirm that it is not above that if you are outside dublin then the amount varies check with citizens advice the amounts
and you can only apply for rent allowance once you are in the property the CWO will come round and check it out also get her to apply to the housing list i think its a new requirement but it will do her no harm being on it anyway

Yep; we got refused on the limit issue but then the landlord reduced the rent.

Some landlords will state the rent limted in the lease and then allow you to top up privately. Just a thought?

edellc

yep they do allow you to top it up privately but you can not let the CWO know you are doing this as its a big no no
also you need an amended lease stating rent is what RA limits are neither of which are fair to the tenant if your claiming RA then your on low income and topping up rent is just pushing people further into poverty but what do you do anything half decent in dublin anyway is at least 1000pm vicious circle really