Rent Allow if already unemployed

charlie2505

Hey all, looking to find opinion. This is all very hypothetical but here goes.
Hubby and I have 2 kids, built house in the country almost 6 yrs ago. DH made redundant 4yrs ago and only work he has had since was based out of Dublin but couldn't afford commute/digs.
I recently lost my job and this was what was sustaining us until now.
We are considering selling house and if estate agent is right, we should either just clear or have small enough shortfall on outstanding mortgage.
So if we sold and moved to Dublin we were thinking about renting.
However if work situation didnt improve we would only have enough to pay for about 9 months.
It appears you are not eligible for rent allow for at least 6 mths. And you had to have been in a position to be able to afford it in first place. Family have offered to give us a small amount to cover 9 months rent. So technically not able to afford it.
We very much hope that DH will get a job so it won't matter but terrified if we move with 2 kids in tow starting school etc and then find no work where that will leave us.
Any advice?

charlie2505

Anyone??

charlie2505 wrote: »

Hey all, looking to find opinion. This is all very hypothetical but here goes.
Hubby and I have 2 kids, built house in the country almost 6 yrs ago. DH made redundant 4yrs ago and only work he has had since was based out of Dublin but couldn't afford commute/digs.
I recently lost my job and this was what was sustaining us until now.
We are considering selling house and if estate agent is right, we should either just clear or have small enough shortfall on outstanding mortgage.
So if we sold and moved to Dublin we were thinking about renting.
However if work situation didnt improve we would only have enough to pay for about 9 months.
It appears you are not eligible for rent allow for at least 6 mths. And you had to have been in a position to be able to afford it in first place. Family have offered to give us a small amount to cover 9 months rent. So technically not able to afford it.
We very much hope that DH will get a job so it won't matter but terrified if we move with 2 kids in tow starting school etc and then find no work where that will leave us.
Any advice?

Cushie Butterfield

charlie2505 wrote: »

It appears you are not eligible for rent allow for at least 6 mths. And you had to have been in a position to be able to afford it in first place. Family have offered to give us a small amount to cover 9 months rent. So technically not able to afford it.

That condition only applies to people who are already living in privately rented accomodation & their employment circumstances have now changed.

Have a look at welfare.ie Rent Supplement Operational Guidelines under Qualifying Conditions:

'2.1 Qualifying Conditions

At the time of application for a Rent Supplement, the claimant must:

- have been residing in private rented accommodation (where at the commencement of the tenancy the person could have reasonably afforded the rent and has experienced a substantial change in his or her circumstances where they are now unable to pay the rent) or accommodation for homeless persons or in an institution (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for Rent Supplement,

OR

- have had an assessment of housing need carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and have been deemed by the relevant local authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.

In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for Rent Supplement will be referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by the local housing authority in the area where claim to Rent Supplement is made (and the person intends to reside). Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, does the person become eligible for consideration for Rent Supplement.'

You would be looking at the second option. The local authority would assess your means, but considering that you won't have any you shouldn't run into any problems on that front.

Just remember that there are maximum rent limits for each county. At present the maximum limits in Dublin - Fingal for a couple with 2 children is €825 & in Dublin - other local authorities is €925. Also remember that you can't apply for rent supplement until your local authority assessment is completed & they have confirmed that you are eligible & in need of social housing support.

charlie2505

Thanks you. We can only be eligible for social housing if we have a letter to say our mortgage in unsustainable which they say they won't give us that, going back to first point, is there any hope there?


So on basis we d

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

That condition only applies to people who are already living in privately rented accomodation & their employment circumstances have now changed.

Have a look at welfare.ie Rent Supplement Operational Guidelines under Qualifying Conditions:

'2.1 Qualifying Conditions

At the time of application for a Rent Supplement, the claimant must:

- have been residing in private rented accommodation (where at the commencement of the tenancy the person could have reasonably afforded the rent and has experienced a substantial change in his or her circumstances where they are now unable to pay the rent) or accommodation for homeless persons or in an institution (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for Rent Supplement,

OR

- have had an assessment of housing need carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and have been deemed by the relevant local authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.

In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for Rent Supplement will be referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by the local housing authority in the area where claim to Rent Supplement is made (and the person intends to reside). Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, does the person become eligible for consideration for Rent Supplement.'

You would be looking at the second option. The local authority would assess your means, but considering that you won't have any you shouldn't run into any problems on that front.

Just remember that there are maximum rent limits for each county. At present the maximum limits in Dublin - Fingal for a couple with 2 children is €825 & in Dublin - other local authorities is €925. Also remember that you can't apply for rent supplement until your local authority assessment is completed & they have confirmed that you are eligible & in need of social housing support.