Rent Allowance/Supplement

katetehblue

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone could help me out with this?

I currently live with my parents and my much younger siblings, but they've recently been told the rented house we all live in is been sold, so they will be looking to move. Long story short is they've told me that they basically they want to rent a smaller house without me as its more suited to their needs. Fair enough really.

My fiance (very recently engaged) and I have been thinking about moving in, renting somewhere small, together for a while. Problem is that I lost my job about a year ago so money has been really tight for me for a long while and whilst i was giving my parents a bit of money for housekeeping its nowhere near the amount I'd be paying for half a rent payment. And whilst my OH still has a job, he's struggling a fair bit too.

I was wondering if I'd be able to get some kind of rent supplement or allowance should my fiance and i move in together?

Would his earnings be taken in consideration for my eligibility? Or would it be "our" eligibility?

Xiney

It would be your joint eligibility since as far as the dept. of social welfare is concerned, you'd be "living as married".

As such, since your fiance is employed, you would not be eligible for rent supplement. Additionally, if you are on a means tested social welfare payment, his income would be taken into account for your means test and your payment may decrease (or it may increase, depending on whether or not you were 25 and your parents income was taken into account while you were living there)

ronbyrne2005

You would need to get a place in your own name and he would technically not be allowed to live there but could visit most nights
This will mean you cant get as nice/expensive a place as if you could claim it while being a couple as to get the rent supplement the rent of the property would have to be within a certain amount.
If he lives at home with family then he could effectively live with you in the place you get under social welfare or if you claimed to be just friedns and rented a 2 bed place then you would get it but that would technically be illegal.
Also you would have to be paying the rent yourself for first 5 months before you get rent supplement i beleive under new rulles that came in recently.

The_Conductor

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

You would need to get a place in your own name and he would technically not be allowed to live there but could visit most nights
This will mean you cant get as nice/expensive a place as if you could claim it while being a couple as to get the rent supplement the rent of the property would have to be within a certain amount.
If he lives at home with family then he could effectively live with you in the place you get under social welfare or if you claimed to be just friedns and rented a 2 bed place then you would get it but that would technically be illegal.
Also you would have to be paying the rent yourself for first 5 months before you get rent supplement i beleive under new rulles that came in recently.

Technically you are advocating fraud.
There would be very serious implications were you caught- and DSFA are doing a lot more inspections than in previous years. Be very very careful before considering something of this nature.

gurramok

If i'm reading that right, it don't make sense. If she was renting on her own, she couldn't afford anywhere on her own(urban based at less than 500quid for a single person) and if they were treated as a couple, they wouldn't get rent supplement at all.

Either way, i just can't see them getting a place in the first place before any potential fraud can be commited. Only way forward is sharing with others or just fork out the money.

Or, she will have to go on the housing list to assess her needs as the OP and her family were already in rented accommodation, she might have a case to prevent her living on the streets through getting emergency assistance?(6 mth rule wouldn't apply here)

Someone will more knowledge might know more in a case like this

katetehblue

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

If he lives at home with family then he could effectively live with you in the place you get under social welfare or if you claimed to be just friedns and rented a 2 bed place then you would get it but that would technically be illegal..

Was thinking along the lines of just splitting the rent between us and asking if I could get anything on my half, but if its illegal it wouldn't worth the risk. Thanks though.

He currently lives with his family. Would this make a difference to the way its calculated?

katetehblue

Xiney wrote: »

Additionally, if you are on a means tested social welfare payment, his income would be taken into account for your means test and your payment may decrease (or it may increase, depending on whether or not you were 25 and your parents income was taken into account while you were living there)

Currently receiving Jobseekers Allowance, and am 22. I'm not entirely sure if my parents incomes would be taken into consideration or not?

The_Conductor

katetehblue wrote: »

Currently recieving Jobseekers Allowance, and am 22. I'm not entirely sure if my parents incomes would be taken into consideration or not?

Can you clarify whether this is benefit or allowance. Benefit is a insurance paid for from your PRSI contributions (if you have sufficient) and is not means tested. Allowance on the other hand is means tested- and is described in detail here.

katetehblue

Its the Allowance, not the Benefit.

The_Conductor

katetehblue wrote: »

Its the Allowance, not the Benefit.

In that case- as you're under 24- your parents income would be taken into account if living at home- or your partners if you live with them.

katetehblue

I can't make heads or tails of the means-testing rules for a spouse in full time employment! Maybe its just the thick in me...

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/JA_ass_sppart_ern.aspx

Is there a chance I'll have my Jobseekers Allowance stopped completely if we should move in together?

The_Conductor

katetehblue wrote: »

I can't make heads or tails of the means-testing rules for a spouse in full time employment! Maybe its just the thick in me...

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/JA_ass_sppart_ern.aspx

Is there a chance I'll have my Jobseekers Allowance stopped completely if we should move in together?

A spouse or partner in fulltime employment will have their insurable income assessed as your income from parttime or casual work. It may reduce your entitlement to a maximum of a qualified adult rate (135, rather than 204) or lower.

You need to contact DSFA about this- for an accurate assessment.

The_Conductor

Moving thread over to state benefits.

simona

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

Also you would have to be paying the rent yourself for first 5 months before you get rent supplement i beleive under new rulles that came in recently.

does this apply if I move to a new place?I receive the rent supplement for more than a year but if I moved elsewhere, would I have to pay myself for 5 months before I get the supplement again in a new place?

Thanks