Newbie Questions - Started Internship, Eligible for Rent Payment?

glenbelt

Hi there,

Realise this is my first post and it's about benefits so please be kind

I arrived from England 3 months ago, I've been working in an unpaid internship full time, but they've recently started to pay me an allowance of €300 per month.
I've also began to rent an apartment at €500 per month. This may have been a bad decision as my funds are running very low.

I'm wondering am I likely to be eligible for any benefit, such as Rent Supplement? I wasn't sure if I'm disqualified because I'm "working" full time (even though I'm just receiving an allowance).
Also I've not been paying any kind of contributions because I've obviously only recently arrived.


Thanks for any help!

Annasopra

Generally to get rent supplement you have to be receiving a social welfare payment - You also have to be renting 6 months before you can get it -

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

glenbelt

Thanks for the reply, I have a PPS number now yes. Only been renting about a month so I guess that rules that out then!

Cheers

Balagan

For Rent Supplement you need to have been renting for 6 months, have been able to afford the rent at the start of the tenancy and have suffered an economic downturn since then. You also have to be approved by the Local Authority for housing. At one stage those two criteria for eligibility were an either/or situation but more recently both criteria have to be met.

Also to receive any social assistance payment in Ireland you need to prove habitual residency here. Documentation to be produced for that includes:

Where possible, you should provide the following documentary evidence:
Proof to show you have given up accommodation abroad
Proof that you have cancelled or applied to cancel any non-transferable benefits
Proof you have transferred or applied to transfer any transferable income
Proof to show measures you have put in place to open a bank account here
Proof to show you have a tenancy in your own name (in Ireland)
Proof of travel documents including, where relevant, excess baggage fees and removal/shipping receipts
All evidence presented will be authenticated, as far as is possible, by the relevant Officer. In some cases you may be asked to submit further documentary evidence. In certain cases, a Social Welfare Inspector may investigate your application.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_assistance_payments/residency_requirements_for_social_assistance_in_ireland.html

Annasopra

Balagan wrote: »

For Rent Supplement you need to have been renting for 6 months, have been able to afford the rent at the start of the tenancy and have suffered an economic downturn since then. You also have to be approved by the Local Authority for housing. At one stage those two criteria for eligibility were an either/or situation but more recently both criteria have to be met.

Since when is it both?


Citizens information website and INOU working for work both say it can be one or the other