Rent allowance

Mrs Garth Brooks

Is it worth applying?

I was told that I needed my name on the housing list before i cant apply for rent allowance. There is alot of work in this form and getting stuff. I have also heard that it can take weeks.

Do i have to do this part?

mp22

Yes,it will give you a better chance of getting rent allowance.

Lugh Ildanach

It depends.

If you have been in private rented accommodation for 6 months out of the last 12, and at the start of your tenancy you could reasonably be expected to have afforded your rent (ie, you were working at the time), you do not need to be on the housing list to apply for rent supplement.

Other exceptions apply to, eg. if you have been in homeless accommodation for 6 months or if you are in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, see here for full details: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html#l1f4da

If you don't fall into one of the categories, then you need to be assessed as in need of housing before being eligible for rent supplement. You're not supposed to be able to get rent supplement while you wait, but in some areas they will pay you (or backdate you) to the date you applied to go on the list.

There are other disqualifications from rent supplement too, eg. if you're a full-time student, or if you and/or any partner are working more than 30 hours in the week. Any income that you have from employment or a partner's employment is also assessed off you.

There are maximum rent limits as well, depending on where in the country you live and what size of a family unit you have.

See the above link for details of how it works.

Mrs Garth Brooks

I have been renting for 8 months but not sure how I can prove I could afford it 8 months ago and not now. I was on the back to education allowance of 188, and now the dole which is the same. Thing is I can live on 188 but if its something extra.

Is it worth applying because of this and forgetting the extra hassle of the housing list.

Lugh Ildanach

You should apply to the housing list now, but I wouldn't wait until the assessment is complete (this can take months depending on the area you are in). As soon as you've made the application for the housing list, apply for rent supplement.

You never know, you may get it pending the housing list application (although strictly speaking you shouldn't), but even worst case scenario, you'll get it once the housing assessment comes back.

edellc

What are you asking if its worth applying for, only you know that, it is something that you are entitled to if on social welfare and meet the criteria

however if you can live on the 188 a week and dont want to fill our forms and tbh you dont seem too bothered then dont apply i mean what else have you got to be doing during the day

Graces7

The housing assessment took 7 months here in Cork. Then Citizen;s Info told me that as I had been renting years and had even had RA in my last rental, they should never have asked me to do that to get RA. No issue was made re the being able to afford etc.

K.a.d.

Hey could anyone hep me. I work 27 hours a week with a low income. I am currently living in my friends houses and just wondering if i would be untitled to any help as i would not be able to afford to rent on my own with my weekly income. thank you

edellc

http://www.welfare.ie/en/schemes/supplementarywelfareallowance/pages/rentsupplement.aspx

if you meet the criteria then you can apply and may be entitled to RA

kingofslaves

I was living with a friend for 6 years and paying the bills and buying food. I wasn't paying rent as I was on disabilty and also the BTWEA scheme which ended this year in february. I reapplied for disabilty allowance and I'm getting SWA at the moment. Do I have to rent a place for 6 months before getting rent allowance ? I'm staying with another friend at the moment but I'm paying them €50 a week out of my SWA.

Graces7

kingofslaves wrote: »

I was living with a friend for 6 years and paying the bills and buying food. I wasn't paying rent as I was on disabilty and also the BTWEA scheme which ended this year in february. I reapplied for disabilty allowance and I'm getting SWA at the moment. Do I have to rent a place for 6 months before getting rent allowance ? I'm staying with another friend at the moment but I'm paying them €50 a week out of my SWA.

Yes to the renting for 6 months, and/or getting on the council housing list.

Always thus best to make a formal agreement with friends etc.

kingofslaves

edellc wrote: »

What are you asking if its worth applying for, only you know that, it is something that you are entitled to if on social welfare and meet the criteria

however if you can live on the 188 a week and dont want to fill our forms and tbh you dont seem too bothered then dont apply i mean what else have you got to be doing during the day

Sorry edellc are you implying that people on benefit are layabouts ? all the OP was asking for was advice on how difficult it was to get this allowance. I take your comment

edellc wrote: »

tbh you dont seem too bothered then dont apply i mean what else have you got to be doing during the day

as a jibe at people on benefit. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to support themselves. Just because you're on benefit doesn't mean you're lazy. Some people are unable to work due to illness or disabilty.

Maybe you should learn grammar, punctuation and spelling before posting insults and criticizing benefit claimants. :P

ShaShaBear

kingofslaves, I think the post was directed at the fact that the OP clearly stated that it seemed like an awful lot of effort to fill out the forms, and was it worth the bother, since they can live on the 188, but wouldn't mind something extra. OPs words, edellc simply pressed on the matter that the OP doesnt seem to want to do any work to get this benefit unless it means extra money that they've pretty much suggested they want, but do not need

kingofslaves

ShaShaBear wrote: »

kingofslaves, I think the post was directed at the fact that the OP clearly stated that it seemed like an awful lot of effort to fill out the forms, and was it worth the bother, since they can live on the 188, but wouldn't mind something extra. OPs words, edellc simply pressed on the matter that the OP doesnt seem to want to do any work to get this benefit unless it means extra money that they've pretty much suggested they want, but do not need

But dis it not sound like they're implying that the OP is lazy & looking for a hand OY.

ShaShaBear

It sounds like that is what the OP is suggesting by saying "Is it worth applying?", "There is alot of work in this form and getting stuff", "Thing is I can live on 188 but if its something extra.", "forgetting the extra hassle of the housing list"

If they really needed the money, these are not questions that would be asked. And for the record, Im on the payment, so Im not slating the OP, but they clearly could not be bothered filling in a few forms and waiting for an answer by what they have said