Applying for rent allowance long drawn out process?

Hobbitfeet

Just went to my CWO to apply for rent allowance and was sent to town hall as now you have to apply for social housing first.
Here I was given numerous forms to fill in be signed by gardai and a solicitor who will charge me for this. Also forms for tax office and social welfare to fill in. Numerous other forms and documents needed. Was then told that when I handed in all needed documents they would sent to be checked which will take a few weeks then someone has to come and inspect the house I'm renting which could take another few weeks then a decision will made and a letter sent to me again another few weeks. |When I receive this letter then I can finally apply for rent allowance which I was told would not be back dated.

This seems like a lot to go through just to apply for rent allowance and seems like it will take ages. Anyone know if this is correct? Just seems like a lot for rent allowance

tenchi-fan

Sounds horrendous.

Though I work a quarter of the week, every week, to pay my rent.

So filling out a few forms doesn't seem so bad

January

You either have to be on the Housing List in your local area OR be renting privately for the last six months.

Hobbitfeet

My partner has been renting privately for the last 6 months and thought I explained this to the CWO he has been renting for the last 6 years me the last 4 months. Should I go back to the CWO?

mrsbyrne

I dont understand, you must have known that there would be some form filling, Rent Supplement is a huge amount of money every week, they cant hand it out willy-nilly. If you filled in the forms correctly it will be obvious to the CWO that your partner has been renting for 6 years.

Slydice

It's free money that the taxpayers (through the government) give to landlords.

It sounds like you got the forms sorted out in a few days and It sounds like it'll get sorted in a couple of months.

If it were really easy for landlords to take this money from taxpayers, then it would probably run out really fast. That's probably why it has so many forms and checking involved.

I hope you don't get stuck for accomodation though, best of luck!

January

Hobbitfeet wrote: »

My partner has been renting privately for the last 6 months and thought I explained this to the CWO he has been renting for the last 6 years me the last 4 months. Should I go back to the CWO?

If you have a joint application then they probably should have accepted you on the back of the private renting... it's handy to be on the housing list anyway, so keep up with that but go back and tell the CWO that you have both been renting privately and it's an either/or situation, you don't have to be on the housing list if you have been renting privately.

Hobbitfeet

mrsbyrne wrote: »

I dont understand, you must have known that there would be some form filling, Rent Supplement is a huge amount of money every week, they cant hand it out willy-nilly. If you filled in the forms correctly it will be obvious to the CWO that your partner has been renting for 6 years.

I'm asking for advice here so theres no need to be smart! The CWO didn't give me any forms to fill out she just sent me to the town hall. That is where I was given all the forms. Here I was told I would need some of the forms signed by a solicitor and here is the biggest problem I had as this is going to cost me a lot of money. I don' have this money that's why I'm applying for rent allowance.

snubbleste

The poster isn't being smart. All the information you need is publicly available free of charge online.
It will only cost a tenner to have your signature witnessed by a solicitor.

Hobbitfeet

I think it is impossible to post in state benefits forums with having at least 1 person reply with an unusefull statement. Seems like there is always someone trying to make you feel good for nothing or like a scrounger just out for all they can get because you are currently unemployed and looking for info on what is rightfully available to you.
Don't bother replying unless you have some info on what the poster is asking.

cee_jay

hobbitfeet please leave the moderating to the moderators.