Renting Question

kmmh58

Hi,

Myself and my boyfriend were renting a house in Kildare for €800pm until April 2012, when the lease was up we moved back to boyfriend parents house to look for new suitable accomadation.

In May 2012 my boyfriend lost his job and is on the dole, due to lack of space in his parents house we would like to rent another place.

I am currently in full time employment, can anyone advise if my boyfriend is entitled to rent supplement? will they take my finances into account when assessing him?

Thanks,
Kmmh58

edellc

you can only claim RA if you have been renting privately for 6 out of the last 12mths or if your in need of social housing....also rent allowance is means tested so your income would have to be declared, you also have to rent somewhere that falls within the allowed rental amounts as set out in the link below for your circumstances

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html

If your partner is on JSB which is based on his prsi contributions then no your earnings are not considered however if he ends up on JSA which is means tested then yes your earnings will be taken into consideration if you are a co habiting couple

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/means_test_for_jobseekers_allowance.html

Monife

Unfortunately, one cannot receive rent allowance if they are cohabiting with someone in full time work. REALLY crap rule.

Employment and Rent Supplement
You will not qualify for Rent Supplement if you are in full-time employment (30 hours or more a week). (In the case of couples, if one of a couple is in full time employment, both are excluded from claiming Rent Supplement).

It seems if you are both on the dole, you would be entitled which imho is totally unfair!