JSA And Rent Allowance

James__10

Myself ( 20 ) and my GF (22) are currently recieving JSA. We're getting JSA of €100 p/w.

What is the going rate of Rent Allowance?

Chucken

Maximum rent limits for each county at the bottom of this page:

http://www.welfare.ie/en/schemes/supplementarywelfareallowance/pages/rentsupplement.aspx

James__10

Chucken wrote: »

Maximum rent limits for each county at the bottom of this page:

http://www.welfare.ie/en/schemes/supplementarywelfareallowance/pages/rentsupplement.aspx

I can't seem to make sense of the above table?

As I live in Louth the figure is €280 per month? What does that mean? The accommodation can only cost a total of 280 per month? So for example if myself and my GF come across a apartment or house thats €500 we would not get Rent Allowance for it?

Chucken

Its 280 in shared accomodation. 430 for a couple with no children.
But going on your income, Id say the shared option is best. So ya, it can only cost 280 a month for the 2 of you.

Chucken

You also have to take this into consideration:

Getting Rent Supplement
Rent Supplement will only be provided if the accommodation is suitable for your needs and the rent is below the maximum rent limit set for your county (see ‘Rates’ below for the current limits).

You may get Rent Supplement if you have been living for 6 months (183 days) out of the last 12 months in one, or a combination, of the following:

Accommodation for homeless people.
Private rented accommodation. You can combine time living in more than one rented accommodation to satisfy the 6 months (183 days). You must be able to show that you could afford the rent at the beginning of your tenancy and that you could have continued to pay rent but are unable to do so because of a change in your circumstances which occurred after you started renting.
An institution, for example, a hospital, care home or place of detention.
Or

Have been assessed by a local authority as being eligible for and in need of social housing in the last 12 months. If you don't have a housing need assessment, you must go to the local authority to have your housing need assessed. The local authority must be in the area that you intend to live and claim Rent Supplement. Only when you are assessed as eligible for and in need of housing can you apply for Rent Supplement. Rent Supplement is not payable while the local authority is carrying out a housing needs assessment.
You must also:

Pass a habitual residence test
Pass a means test

TheJinMu

Dont forget, as far as I know you'll be considered as "co-habiting" when you move in together, and will be seen in the same way as a married couple would be, so you will be seen as a couple, so if I'm right you'd get €430. (I'm not 100% sure if this applies when neither of you are working though) Best to ask citizen's info or your local welfare officer.

James__10

TheJinMu wrote: »

Dont forget, as far as I know you'll be considered as "co-habiting" when you move in together, and will be seen in the same way as a married couple would be, so you will be seen as a couple, so if I'm right you'd get €430. (I'm not 100% sure if this applies when neither of you are working though) Best to ask citizen's info or your local welfare officer.

So we'd get rent allowance of €430 per month? So for example if we see a apartment or house thats €500 per month we'd have to come up with the €70 ourselves?

TheJinMu

As I said, I'm not sure but I think thats how it is.
But no, I think they only cover you IF your place costs 430 or less. I'm in a similar situation, but I'll be living alone and the max is 350, where I am now costs 500 split between 2 but the other person is moving out. I'm going to apply anyway because there doesnt seem to be anywhere around here for 350 or under but I doubt I'll have any joy...

(Link to my post so you can see my situation: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056847117)

EDIT:
Also, you have to pay a certain amount yourself each week anyway, its €35 for a couple but it doesnt say if thats weekly or monthly...

And I think Chucken meant by Shared Accomodation, that you went and moved in to a place where other people already live and you shared a place with other people. I thought they meant sharing as in classed as not a couple. Sorry.

Chucken

If a place costs 430 a month, as a couple you would have to pay A MINIMUM of 35 a week. This varies as it seems to be at the discretion of the cwo.

Its NOT a case of a you finding a place for 500 and having 430 paid for you.
Your limit for rent is 430 as a couple! You both get 100 a week each which would be lowered as ye would have to claim social welfare as a couple.

pl4ichjgy17zwd

It shows you how to calculate what rent supplement you could receive here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/calculating_rent_supplement.html

wazzer1

Stupid question but how can they define if your co-habiting or not, if one of you arent working??

ShaShaBear

The limit for a couple in Louth is €430 a month. Your rent needs to be exactly this amount or lower. You will have to pay €35 a week in rent, and you will receive the remaining €395 in rent allowance (or less depending on how much the rent is.) However, as you will be living with your girlfriend, you will also have to claim as a couple - to the best of my knowledge this involves one of you claiming for the other as an adult dependant (and this means less money in most cases). And obviously they will know if you are cohabiting because you will both be claiming from the same address, and the CWO will come out to inspect your living arrangements.