Rent Allowance Application

valpuk

Hi guys,

I tried to apply for rent allowance but I was told by Housing Authority that I need to go on the housing list and be reviewed before I can apply for this.

Is that correct?
I am lookin for rent allowance for a private rented house. I cant see how i would need to go on the housing list when i just want allowance for the house i am currently in.

If anyone can shed some light on this for me i would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

snubbleste

That is correct.

gussieg

yep yep yep thats right.

valpuk

thank you v. much for info

IrelandSpirit

That’s correct, valpak, and I do sympathise with what you say, I too can’t see how going on the housing list has anything to do with your situation. Given that legally, lawfully and within their departmental rules, the word ‘apply’ means ‘ask’ or ‘beg’ in the common usage of the word, and that only tyrants coerce and obligate people to beg, you should perhaps ask the Health Service Executive to please confirm that they’re not forcing you to apply for housing as a mandatory condition of receiving financial help towards your rent. The two are mutually exclusive if you already have accommodation, and it may take between 15-16 weeks before your housing claim is processed, the last time I checked. The HSE (normally) doesn’t process your claim for rent supplement until that is done. So yeah, be prepared for the long haul and a lot of hoop-jumping!

greendom

Well, that's weird - we recently started receiving housing allowance after applying back in Feb and we are not on the housing list but like yourself living in private rented accommodation.

Will this be corrected ? Do I need to put myself on the housing list to ensure that my family don't lose this benefit?

IrelandSpirit

I dunno, it is weird, yeah, I read that post last night and couldn’t work out any (sane) reason why the HSE are insisting on this protocol. Perhaps it’s just a new ‘policy’ they’ve concocted to put people off claiming rent supplement in the current economic situation? I dunno, but I do know it can be a long and involved process running around getting on the housing list, never mind anything else.
So if you’re already receiving rent supplement, I personally wouldn’t rock the boat. In my mind, you should be safe enough, and the onus is on them to inform people of their procedures anyway. If they’ve made a mistake which aggravates your financial situation, it is theirs, and they will have to provide the remedy.

Xiney

I think it is because rent allowance is supposed to be a temporary solution when there is not enough social housing. It was not the intention to start subsidizing private landlords when rent allowance was begun.

ynotdu

valpuk you are unfortunate in your community welfare officer,
they receive their funding from the HSE and nearly all payments they pay are at their discretion(not an entitlement)vast majority of cwo,s are compasionate people,some are cowards or simply cruel.(for a long time rumour has it the more a cwo saves from her/his budget they get a bonus.I must stress this is only a rumour i have heard,it may be untrue.

Threshold(in Dublin they are located in church st)have the best expertise in this area.

wish you luck:)

greendom

Xiney wrote: »

I think it is because rent allowance is supposed to be a temporary solution when there is not enough social housing. It was not the intention to start subsidizing private landlords when rent allowance was begun.

Nothing so permanent as temporary I suppose....

Xiney

yup.

But I figure that's also why, if you refuse social housing three times in the same 18 month period, they'll stop your rent allowance.