A NEW payment that will
allow people to work and still claim welfare to pay
for rent has been introduced.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) which replaces
rent supplement is designed to benefit households
that need help with their housing needs but who are
afraid to take up work in case they lose the
benefit.
"Unlike rent supplement, the new HAP scheme, will
allow people to take up full time employment and
continue to receive HAP, this is very welcome news,"
said Minister for Small Business, John Perry T.D.
Under the scheme, the payment, which will be issued
by the local authority instead of the Department of
Social Protection, will be paid incrementally
depending on how much the applicant earns.
“One of the reasons for introducing HAP is to
improve the circumstances of the some 40,000
households that have been in receipt of long-term
rent supplement payments, so that they can enter
into employment, live in accommodation that meets
appropriate standards and access other social
housing supports, if they so wish, through the
transfer list," Mr Perry added. People will also
have the option to find their own accommodation and,
provided their council is happy that it is up to
standard and within the rent limits, people can
receive the benefit.
HAP is also designed to make sure that the standards
of the accommodation are right and that each
landlord is fully compliant.
Housing Minister Jan O'Sullivan added: "HAP tenants
can be included on a transfer list from which they
can avail of a range of housing options. Where
housing becomes available, local authorities will
make provision to allocate available units to people
on the transfer list.
“This new legislation should be widely welcomed as
it will assist working families on low incomes to
find suitable accommodation, will help towards
increasing housing supply and help to ensure access
to good quality accommodation for all who need it." |
