Do you think people who are living with landlords for example should be entitled to extra benefit.

steve66 · 25-09-2022 9:50pm #1

Current Status. Unemployed. On Disability.

Okay, so I have lived on my own, and now I am living in house with the owner.

Living on my own. I had all the benefits. ie fuel allowance, living allowance. HAP. etc etc

Now, I live with landlord and her boyfriend. She pays for internet and bins. The three of us contribute to oil for heating, and electricty.

Do you think people in my situation should be entitled to some form of fuel allowance?

To be honest. I'm not sure about the answer myself.

I'm just throwing the question out there to see if anybody has any thoughts about it, one way or the other.

zell12 · 25-09-2022 10:19pm

No.

Jim_Hodge · 25-09-2022 10:22pm

Absolutely not. That makes no sense and would be completely inequitable.

dontmindme · 25-09-2022 10:23pm

You're living on your own you get fuel allowance but as soon as you house share you lose your fuel allowance? They expect yis all to huddle together for warmth is it?

Kurooi · 25-09-2022 10:25pm

The landlord should calculate the cost of the heating into the rent they charge you.

steve66 · 25-09-2022 11:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119664664#Comment_119664664

Yes. you would lose it. But lets say that I moved into a residence with someone getting fuel allowance eg someone subletting, they would still get it. But in my opinion that should be reflected on how much they charge me.

Pissy Missy · 26-09-2022 12:46am

Tbh on disability allowance, I can't believe you can afford to live anywhere

steve66 · 26-09-2022 1:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665040#Comment_119665040

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119664673#Comment_119664673

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119665040#Comment_119665040

Well, I wouldn't go that far. But I can only speak about my own situation. Single guy. 208 euros per week. After calculating how much to put aside for bills. I calculate I have about 118 euros for food etc. But although single, I have someone in my life, who due to circumstances I won't go into, gets no social welfare. So she gets around

half that 118. So I really have around 60 euros per week left. How do I manage?; by getting food that's reduced, and the same with clothes. But I'm not bothered by that. I'm sure that there are many people worse off than me. Still I will be happy to see what the budget increase there is going to be.

Pissy Missy · 26-09-2022 1:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119666517#Comment_119666517

I'm not saying it to have a go at you, I'm also on disability allowance and after I pay for my car and bills, there would be absolutely no way I could afford rent, so thankful for my amazing parents, but fairplay to you, and your partner, I struggle as it is.

steve66 · 26-09-2022 4:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119666601#Comment_119666601

Ah. No. I didn't think you were having a go at me. To be honest, I don't need to be on disabilty any more. I've been looking for work. But I'm 62, and that's not an advantage. ☺

Oh, I guess one advantage I have, is that I don;t have a car.

TooTired123 · 28-09-2022 12:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119664664#Comment_119664664

There’s no reason for the landlord and her boyfriend who probably have good well paying jobs to be sitting in front of a fire part payed for by the taxpayers.

newmember2 · 28-09-2022 1:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674205#Comment_119674205

Whether living alone or with others the OP still has a fuel bill.

TooTired123 · 28-09-2022 7:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674328#Comment_119674328

We all have fuel bills. I’m not sure what point your trying to make here.

In order for someone to qualify to be eligible for fuel allowance then he or she must be living alone OR only living with other people all of whom would also be eligible for the fuel allowance in their own right or who would be financially dependent to some extent on him or her.

This ensures that only homes living in fuel poverty, get the fuel allowance. Those are the homes targeted by the fuel allowance.

This doesn’t appear to be the case for the OP.

Jim_Hodge · 28-09-2022 8:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674328#Comment_119674328

So what? Everybody has a fuel bill. What's your point? Should the landlord benefit from state supported fuel allowances?

screamer · 28-09-2022 8:40am

I think there should be some benefit, at the moment the landlord benefits from a tax free allowance, but the person renting the room gets nothing except a bill…..

Flinty997 · 28-09-2022 8:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674205#Comment_119674205

Out of curiosity Who do you think should play for this fire if one or more of people sharing the house is on payments?

Flinty997 · 28-09-2022 8:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058264889/do-you-think-people-who-are-living-with-landlords-for-example-should-be-entitled-to-extra-benefit

Fair play for asking and sharing.

What's your perspective on it? Why ask the question? I assume someone in that situation wants to contribute somehow. But it's almost impossible without an allowance of some kind.

TooTired123 · 28-09-2022 8:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674646#Comment_119674646

If one member of the household is on a SW payment then you think that household is in fuel poverty?!? Why?!?

TooTired123 · 28-09-2022 9:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674665#Comment_119674665

Your position seems to be that when a mixed household has chosen to cohabit together, that irregardless of the financial position of the householders (for example 2 pensioners have invited their adult son/daughter on a salary of €150000 to live with them while he searches for a suitable home of his own) that because the pensioners were in fuel poverty before they invited him to live with them, that their home CONTINUES to be in fuel poverty AFTER he’s arrived, despite his considerable means, and he can’t be expected to contribute proportionately, and the state should consider that the household STILL needs the fuel allowance.

Is that your position?

Flinty997 · 28-09-2022 9:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674711#Comment_119674711

I'm wondering why should the people they are sharing with pay for that persons heat. They might not know each other.

What it does is makes it very difficult for people to share. Which seems odd in a housing crisis.

Pissy Missy · 28-09-2022 9:20am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119667386#Comment_119667386

Hope you find a job soon, people give out on here about how 'easy' it is, but unless you have contacts,it can be very hard to get a job. My friend was looking for ages and only because I knew the boss, thankfully he gave him a job. Glad it's an advantage and hopefully you live local/by public transport so don't need a car.

TooTired123 · 28-09-2022 1:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674744#Comment_119674744

If you agree to share a house with someone then you do that on the basis that you have reached a mutual agreement about how the household utilities will be split between you all BEFORE you commence co habiting.

So the OP knew that the fuel allowance the HBP and the living alone increase would not be applied to his DA when he agreed to be a licensee in this house. A discussion about contributing to heating costs needed to be had at that stage, not now.

Flinty997 · 28-09-2022 7:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119675828#Comment_119675828

My question wasn't about the OP. But the the system holistically. Which you've ignored.

Someone earlier in the thread was amazed the op could make ends meet at all, and make it work. I am equally amazed. I think it's broken system.

TooTired123 · 28-09-2022 7:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119677549#Comment_119677549

Ok I’ve told you how the fuel allowance means test works. Now it’s your turn to tell me how it actually should work in your opinion. You say that the system is broken. Fine. Then you must have an idea what the “fixed and fair for everyone” fuel allowance eligibility looks like.

Flinty997 · 28-09-2022 8:12pm

I don't think it should make it harder to share in a time of housing crisis.

They made changes to make it more accessible. To more people. So they at least feel more people need it then are getting it.

steve66 · 29-09-2022 12:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674665#Comment_119674665

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119674205#Comment_119674205

Well, We live in tullow. She works in an office in some rehabilition place in Dublin. He dies physical work somewhere in Tullow.

steve66 · 29-09-2022 1:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119675828#Comment_119675828

Well in all fairness to this landady, or not, depending how you look at it. all going well. I should be able to get the HBP. Why. Because the electrity providor will be changed from prepay power to electric ireland due to an issue she had/has with the former. That was another thread here. She asked me if I wanted to have the bills in my name.

steve66 · 29-09-2022 1:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119678594#Comment_119678594

Oh, there is a fire here. But it's started by kindling.

steve66 · 29-09-2022 2:11am

I have been asked for my perspective.

I would say ideally, but realising that's it's probably not workable. and also taking into account, that the landlord pays for bins and internet. that I and people in my situation be awarded 10 euros per week fuel allowance.

So lets make that practical. Heating for Showers, and room is oil. Last oil bought cost 420. Each of us paid 140 each. Next oil due in maybe 3 months. So that's 12 weeks. So with 10 euros a week. my contribution would be almost paid for.

Folks. thank you all for taking the time to reply.

TooTired123 · 29-09-2022 8:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119678675#Comment_119678675

The application form for HBP looks for you to list the people you are living with and their PPSNs.Your entitlement to HBP hinges on the other occupants of the house. But listen, have at it, go to the bother of putting the electricity account in the house in your name only to be refused the benefit. Then you’ll be responsible for the electricity bill….

Do you think people who are living with landlords for example should be entitled to extra benefit.

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