Disability Allowance & HAP Difficulty

justinnnx

Hi all,

Recently, my parent passed away (single mom). She was on Rent Allowance, with me and my sibling in a 3 bedroom house. For the time being, my name has been transferred onto the lease and they have put me under the Rent Allowance Scheme.
However, I'm being told by Social Welfare that the place would be viewed as too big for just me and my brother. We have been advised to look for a 2 bedroom apartment that accepts HAP.

To make matters worse, I have a long term disability which requires me to attend frequent hospital appointments weekly. Luckily, I have been put under Disability Allowance, but I don't know if my allowance will be able to sustain me while under HAP, as I heard the HAP scheme favours those working or pursuing a career. I don't know if I'm over-reacting either, hence why I would like some advice.

I've had a number of employers struggle to schedule me in for work hours around my hospital appointments, that I was forced to just leave as my illness can be life-threatening. This has caused me to pursue third-level education so I am making some sort of an advancement.

My question is, is it possible to actually rent under the HAP scheme while only receiving Disability Allowance? Unfortunately, the only centre which deals with my illness is based in St James Hospital, Dublin so that doesn't help with matters. For instance, I'm seeing many 2 bedroom places for rent at approx. €1500 give or take. My allowance is €193 weekly. I've been told by the Housing Department in Dublin that my limit hasn't been set as my case is unusual, but i'm going by the couple rate of €900 in Dublin since my sibling just turned 18.
So basically, does this I would be paying the remaining €600 from this allowance monthly, and have €200 monthly for electricity, food, gas, and bins?

My sibling plans on going to third-level education in September, and is currently looking for work until then, but is finding it hard to do so. I'm just hoping at this stage they qualify for SUSI to take care of their own expenses, but I'm just scared I won't be able to sustain myself.

Also, considering the fact that it's already difficult to find houses in Dublin to rent under HAP, will a landlord realistically take in a Disabled 21 year old with their sibling who is in third-level education? I'm being told by someone to find Student Accommodation for my sibling, but I only see that as a more costly alternative.


Please, I apologise if anyone is offended by what I'm asking. I just don't know how it all works, as my mother was working and things were fine then financially. Asking my sibling not to pursue their dream in college just to work would kill me also, so I would appreciate any help I could receive. Thank you

pl4ichjgy17zwd

I can't answer your questions about limits or availability, but I can tell you I'm on disability and getting HAP so it is possible.

Nomis21

I am on HAP and Disibility allowance. HAP is as good or even better for you as Landlords will accept it easier than rent allowance as they get paid directly from the council.

You have a free travel pass. That means you do not have to live in Dublin. You only have to live somewhere that has a good train or bus connection to Dublin and has affordable housing. For example Roscommon where housing is much easier to find.