Get Rent-allowance back-dated ?

InReality

I was on social welfare for a year and a half , and living in rented accomodation in 2007/2007.

I'm back in work now.

I didn't claim for rent allowance during that time.

Do people think there is any chance I could get some of the rent-allowance backdated ?

Anybody been in a similar situation ?

cee_jay

No that's not gonna happen i'm afraid. Its 2 years ago! Most social welfare claims can only be backdated 6 months and even then it's at discretion of deciding officer. Not knowing of your entitlement is not reason for not claiming either

crl84

can anyone tell me who/how I should apply for rent to be backdated?
I lived in rented accom. from January-Sept (unemployed since May), and then moved into my current rented accom. in Sept.
Should I just go to the local health office about it, or is this dealt with by some other office/dept.?
I amn't currently receiving Rent Allowance, but plan on applying for it next week.

Elliee

CRL84 Go to your local CWO (community welfare officer). its to do with the HSE.
The wont back date your claim to january. You'll be lucky if they backdate it from the date you leave in your forms.
There is a new rule that your have to be renting the place your looking for rent allowance for, for 6 months before getting rent allowance. So going by you only moved into your new place in sept, you may not get it until febuary next year.

Best bet is to go chat with your local CWO. See what they say.

Im waiting the end of this month to come so I can claim. I moved in to a new place in June and ive been with my CWO and she wont even take my paperwork until I am 6 months renting my current place.

crl84

Elliee, thanks for the reply.

Are you sure that it is 6 months in the current location?
The below link says 6 months in rented accomodation. It doesn't specify it having to be the same accomodation for all of this period.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/SupplementaryWelfareAllowance/Pages/RentSupplement.aspx


My CWO would be in my nearest "health centre", as per:
http://findaddress.citizensinformation.ie/service_finder/

Is this correct?

Elliee

Yes crl84 my CWO is in my local health centre. so yours prob is too

Im just going by what my CWO told me... I might go to citizens info tomorrow and ask if im being told the truth in having to be in my place for 6 months before getting it! Ill be raging if its lies! :mad:

devilhomer

Hi folks,
re rent supplement.

You have to be either renting for 6 months,or be assessed as having a housing need from your local housing authority.

If you have been renting for 6 months and can prove it (ie tenancy agreement)you qualify as long as you rent is within the rent capping limits.

If you have a housing need and have proof from your local authority that you are on housing list and have been assessed you qualify as long as your rent is within the capping limits.

Its that simple..

Elliee

Indeed devilhomer, "have been assessed" by the council is a biggest most important point. As we were told we only needed to be on the council housing list. We spent a month waiting to get on it only to be told "anyone can get on the council housing list. you need to have your needs assessed i.e home visits etc
I hate being given wrong information!!! :mad:

devilhomer

Hi Elliee,
your CWO is wrong.If you present an application to your CWO she has to make a decision on your claim.She cannot defer you for 6 months. If she is going to refuse you ,ask for that refusal in writing and the right to appeal to the SUPT CWO.If she is going to refuse on the 6 month rule then that has to be outlined and stated when you will qualify.

If you have had a housing assessment and a letter from the local authority stating a housing needs assessment has been completed and you qualify for a social house when 1 becomes available, then you qualify for a Rnt Supplement as long as your accommodation is within the rent capping limit.

Dont sit waiting until the end of the month....

Elliee

Thanks devilhomer, I havent had the housing assessment, I was told it could take up to 5 months to wait for a housing assessment! :rolleyes:

I went down to CWO with the appplication and ive been in current accommodation for 5 months and was told unless I can get a lease from a previous landlord to say I was renting elsewhere for the month previous I cannot get it. Thing is there was never a lease in place in the old place.
So my old landlord wont faciliate me on providing such a thing especially when I havent lived there for the last 5 months.

Basically the CWO said come back when you have an old lease or when your renting for 6 months. He wouldnt even look at my application or touch it. He just said hold on to it :mad:

devilhomer

Wow that is also to long. Write a letter to your housing or hand in a letter to your housing officer asking when that will take place as you want to apply for rent supplement and they are holding up that application.

Do you have bills (esb gas)for the old address? If so copy them to the cwo with a letter outling that you lived there for however long it was and that the Landlord wont give you a previous agreement. Do you have reciepts(rent paid) for the old address or a rent book, this is all proof that you have lived in a rented accommodation.

Again, you are entitled to apply and be refused.

So if you have all or any of the above , hand them in to the cwo with a letter that you wish him to make a decision on your claim now on the basis of the information you have provided.He cannot refuse to take it from you.