Another HAP Query

brian1983

Hi,

I'm currently waiting to get onto the social housing list. In order to apply for HAP, then I must get onto the housing list. I was down at the council on Friday. They couldn't accept my application without the HLP1 form completed by revenue. I posted this on 29/1 and am waiting on it.
I asked, "When I submit my complete application, how long until I can apply for HAP?"
She said, "If you submitted a full application today then it would be processed in mid to late May, then you may apply for HAP"
It would be impossible for me to make rent without the HAP.

A bit of background... I've worked for 20 years. Got let go from my job in January. I live in rented accommodation with my partner and two small children. We've lived here for 10 years. My partner works full time. We've always earned too much for any assistance or to be considered for social housing.

I could just get a job. But I'm thinking of using this opportunity to return to education. A one year full time course to up skill and refresh my degree from 2008. I found a course that leads 95 percent of graduates to employment in engineering. Great.

I'd like to do it but rent is the one factor in my way. I could just get another retail job but it may lead nowhere. So I'd like to do the course.

How can I fast track the HAP???
Is that possible???

I was thinking of hounding the councillors and politicians locally to get some help. They helped me before with a different issue.

Thoughts??

wifey28

You cannot fast track a social housing application, it takes approx 10-12 weeks once forms are submitted for a decision to be made and only if accepted can you applyfor hap, which then takes a few more weeks to be accepted and is paid in arrears

What is your partners income? and how many kids do you have? Are you on any SW that can be counted towards income?

Also worth to note the housing authority may look at your last income and put you as being over the limit anyway if you were to get a job tomorrow and you maybe refused still

brian1983

Thanks for the reply.

I was told no arrears. If there is arrears then maybe my landlord would wait 3 months? I could ask him.

I've no plans to get a job until March 2021 (not to sound bad but I've signed up for a one year full time course).

Previously when I was employed, my income combined with my partners excluded us from a social housing application. I hope this historical income isn't held against me. I have feck all savings.

We've 2 kids aged 8 and 3 and my partner works. Rent is fairly high for a 2 bed house.

I was on the phone to a guy from community welfare from the DEASP today. He said they may pay our Feb rent as a one off. This would be helpful. It would give me another month.

I've hit up the local politicians aswell. A local TD did me a massive favour years ago so its worth a shot....not how things should be done but if it works then why not.

wifey28

brian1983 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

I was told no arrears. If there is arrears then maybe my landlord would wait 3 months? I could ask him.

I've no plans to get a job until March 2021 (not to sound bad but I've signed up for a one year full time course).

Previously when I was employed, my income combined with my partners excluded us from a social housing application. I hope this historical income isn't held against me. I have feck all savings.

We've 2 kids aged 8 and 3 and my partner works. Rent is fairly high for a 2 bed house.

I was on the phone to a guy from community welfare from the DEASP today. He said they may pay our Feb rent as a one off. This would be helpful. It would give me another month.

I've hit up the local politicians aswell. A local TD did me a massive favour years ago so its worth a shot....not how things should be done but if it works then why not.

You dont mention what the household in come is? this is the primary thing needed to be able to answer if youll get hap



They do not take into account your rent costs or your outgoings for this means test. And if the rent is quite high then youll likely still be paying a very large portion of it monthly even if you do get hap.



What i meant by paid in arrears is, rent is usually paid, lets say the 1st of the month but it is for that month it is paid, so its paid in advance, Hap pays the last day of the month for that same month, so its paid in arrears and not in advance like youd pay private rent


You can speak to all the politicians you like, they cant do anything for you, 20 years ago they had some pull maybe, but now everyone speaks to their local td , so they have zero pull, they could send 20 letters to the housing dept and they only suceed in pissing someone off.



I assume as youve taken up a 1 year course that you are not on any form of social welfare then?

brian1983

wifey28 wrote: »

You dont mention what the household in come is? this is the primary thing needed to be able to answer if youll get hap



They do not take into account your rent costs or your outgoings for this means test. And if the rent is quite high then youll likely still be paying a very large portion of it monthly even if you do get hap.



What i meant by paid in arrears is, rent is usually paid, lets say the 1st of the month but it is for that month it is paid, so its paid in advance, Hap pays the last day of the month for that same month, so its paid in arrears and not in advance like youd pay private rent


You can speak to all the politicians you like, they cant do anything for you, 20 years ago they had some pull maybe, but now everyone speaks to their local td , so they have zero pull, they could send 20 letters to the housing dept and they only suceed in pissing someone off.



I assume as youve taken up a 1 year course that you are not on any form of social welfare then?

Not looking good so. Some system isn't it?

Household income is my 203 JA per week. This will switch to a 203 training allowance in March. My partner's income is 563 gross per week.

Maybe my TD can do nothing, but I feel I should try these avenues as I don't have the luxury of waiting 12 weeks plus. He did help with an issue 2 years ago so that's why I approached him again.

If I need to get a job and pay the rent I will but I would like to do the course so I could get a better job in one year. Thinking of the next 30 years as opposed to just the next 5 years.

Gatling

TDs won't be able to speed up the process unfortunately your application will likely be in with hundreds of others all waiting to be sorted ,there is no skipping the paperwork and protocols

wifey28

brian1983 wrote: »

Not looking good so. Some system isn't it?

Household income is my 203 JA per week. This will switch to a 203 training allowance in March. My partner's income is 563 gross per week.

Maybe my TD can do nothing, but I feel I should try these avenues as I don't have the luxury of waiting 12 weeks plus. He did help with an issue 2 years ago so that's why I approached him again.

If I need to get a job and pay the rent I will but I would like to do the course so I could get a better job in one year. Thinking of the next 30 years as opposed to just the next 5 years.

Adding up the rough income I get just over 39k income a year, This is very likely still over the income limit for the housing list in many counties. The income limits vary from approx 35k for 2 adults and 1 child, to 41k for 2 adults and 4 kids.

You can go to your local authoities website to check the limits for your family size and thatll give you a very quick answer of the likelihood of you being accepting to the housing list to avail of hap.



I also approached my local tds when i was about to be made homeless, and they all sent leters and i was told direct from the housing authotity at that time that it had zero effect, and there is no wayto speed upthe process, as its a waiting list of sorts, thats just how many applicants they have and they do them in order to give fairness in the joining of the list so you join in the order you apply

brian1983

Thanks for the replies.

I may be in bother so. I'll see how accommodating my landlord is. We've been good tenants for ten years so maybe he'll give us some grace.
A loan would be the last solution, I don't fancy doing that but we'll see.
I'll update here and let you know how it goes