Another rent allowance question

loubian

I'm a 24yr single mother of a 8 month old. I'm currently living at home but I would love to move out. I will be going to work part time (under 20 hours a week, I don't know how much I'll be paid), ill be paying for creche for 3 days a week, and I get one parent family payment. On a quick view of that; would you think I'd be eligible for RA? and also, do you need to have moved out before you apply?

Thanks!

ABajaninCork

You have to have been renting privately for six months before you can apply for RA.

mrsbyrne

ABajaninCork wrote: »

You have to have been renting privately for six months before you can apply for RA.

...or be on a local authority housing list.

Gatling

mrsbyrne wrote: »

...or be on a local authority housing list.

In a lot of cases it's both required /or at least insisted on

loubian

Ok thanks for your replies

mrsbyrne

Gatling wrote: »

In a lot of cases it's both required /or at least insisted on

No, thats not correct and if the CWO is requiring this then the applicant needs to go further about it.
See below:
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.

ABajaninCork

In Cork, you have to be assessed as being in need of housing AND be on the list before you can get RA. I had to bring the paperwork to the CWO before she'd even look at the application.

mrsbyrne

Being on the list is the same as being assesed as in need of housing. Thats what being on the list means.

ABajaninCork

Yes, I am well aware of that. I was merely reinforcing the point that unless the paperwork from the Local Authority was produced, then the application wouldn't be entertained.

mrsbyrne

If you have been renting for 6 months, and could afford the rent when you commenced the tenancy, then you do not have to be on the housing list/assesed as in need of housing.
Those are the rules.

Graces7

ABajaninCork wrote: »

In Cork, you have to be assessed as being in need of housing AND be on the list before you can get RA. I had to bring the paperwork to the CWO before she'd even look at the application.

I was told that in Cork BUT it was not true. Another welfare officer told me that they were wrong and I emailed the Supervisor and it was set right.

I had waited 7 months for the council to come out. .

Because they were wrong I got the RA backdated.. Must be the same CWO unless it was some while ago.

But they are wrong to do that UNLESS you have not been renting 6 months

Graces7

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Yes, I am well aware of that. I was merely reinforcing the point that unless the paperwork from the Local Authority was produced, then the application wouldn't be entertained.

Cork has it wrong. Period. Challenge it as I did, They cannot invent their own rules.

IF you have been renting 6 months then you are eligible.

ABajaninCork

The point you make is moot since I no longer claim RA. That is what I was told at the time of application, so that's what we did.

You can either sit there and argue the point. In which case, any payments due will be delayed and might potentially put you in trouble with the landlord. Or you can comply.

Graces7

ABajaninCork wrote: »

The point you make is moot since I no longer claim RA. That is what I was told at the time of application, so that's what we did.

You can either sit there and argue the point. In which case, any payments due will be delayed and might potentially put you in trouble with the landlord. Or you can comply.

Which I did in my naivete and seven months later was still waiting to putting me on the list.

So I had to find the full rent all that time, during that very bad winter and all.

It is not an immediate thing; so the delays are there. And if by chance you have not been renting for the 6 months then you will not get RA while you are waiting to be put on the list

When I was told they were wrong I emailed the Supervisor and it finally got sorted.

The days when I would comply automatically are long gone and that applies to the current demand to be put on a housing list here. Always ask why and who says and check it all.

Gatling

The problem will come up in 8 /9 months when they send you out a rent supplement review and when you re send them all your documentation they will specifically ask for a letter from your local authority stating you have been accepted and are on the housing list