Rent allowance

Edups

Just looking to have a question cleared up.

The maximum rent allowance rate in my area is 530 a month. Citizens information states that renting a property above that limit may be allowed if I meet one of several criteria, one of them is having the ability to pay the extra rent above the limit. So basically my question is,

If I rent a property at 700 p/m I'm 170 above the set limit. So, will the DSP pay me 530 p/m and I must make up the rest,

or

Will I still need to make the ususal minimum contribution of €40 plus the extra? If so that would mean I put towards 80 odd euro p/w

Gatling

You still need to take the minimum contribution from the 530 .
So they will give you €370 pm in rent supplement meaning you would need to top up by 330pm .

If my figures are correct.

From citizen's advice

Cases where rent is over the relevant limit
In some cases Rent Supplement can be paid at the discretion of the DSP staff administering the scheme where the rent is over the relevant limit:

If you or a member of your household has special housing needs (for example, a disabled person in specially adapted accommodation).
If you will be able to pay the rent yourself within a short period, if, for example, if you are taking up employment. In this case Rent Supplement at a higher rate can be paid for a short period of 6-8 weeks.
If you have additional income to pay the balance yourself. (Rent Supplement is still based on the maximum rent limit.)
If there are other exceptional circumstances. (Special provisions apply if you are at risk of becoming homeless.) Note also that the Community Welfare Service has statutory discretionary power to award or increase a Rent Supplement payment, for example, when dealing with a person who is in danger of homelessness. This applies both to people getting Rent Supplement and new applicants. Tenants in Counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, and Cork city, can access the Tenancy Protection Service on 1800 454 454

njs030

You still have to make the weekly contribution

infogiver

Rent allowance pay 357
You pay 343
Per month
80 per week
Edited to add: in the county I live in you wouldn't be approved for rent allowance for a place so much in excess of the limit because the CWO would consider you couldn't afford double the minimum contribution