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Understanding Rent Allowance
Rent Allowance/Supplement is a payment through the Health Services Executive (HSE) to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. People working part time on low income, or who are in receipt of a Social Welfare payment may be eligible to receive it.
How do I apply for Rent Allowance?
You apply through the Community Welfare Officer (CWO) in the HSE for your local area. The CWO is often based in the local health centre. Check out the hours they are available in your area by contacting the Community Welfare Department of the HSE in your region
What you should know....
- You must be 18 or over to qualify for Rent Allowance and be determined by your Local Authority, (Council or Corporation) as being in need of housing.
- This means that you must put yourself on the Local Authority Housing List and have your application assessed and approved by them.
- You must also be 18 or over to go on the housing list.
- Proof that you have registered for housing and that you have been determined to be in need of housing, will be required by the Community Welfare Officer (HSE) when you apply to them for Rent Allowance.
- If you have already been renting for at least 6 months and paying all the rent yourself, you may be entitled to Rent Allowance if you then find yourself unable to pay the rent (e.g due to unemployment etc)
When can I apply?
Once you have made an application to your Local Authority for housing and they have completed a Housing Assessment with you and approved your application.
You then need to find a place to rent and check that the Landlord accepts tenants receiving Rent Allowance. Once you have found a place, attend the CWO in that area to apply for rent allowance. You will normally be given a form for the landlord to complete stating the rent, rent in advance, deposit etc. You may be entitled to help with the deposit.
Can I get Rent Allowance if I am at school or working?
You cannot receive rent allowance if you are in full-time work at the time of application.You also cannot normally receive rent allowance if you are in full-time education unless you are participating in a specific scheme such as the Back to Education Programme. (Dept. of Social and Family Affairs) or Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS) or a FAS programme.
How is Rent Allowance paid?
It may be paid by cheque made out to you or to your landlord or paid directly into your landlord’s account. It may be paid monthly or weekly. This will vary from area to area, so check it with your Community Welfare Officer.
How much can I get?
The payment is means tested, so any income you receive through work or maintenance will be taken into consideration when your Rent Allowance is being calculated. You may only receive rent allowance for a house/flat under a certain level of rent. Each county has a rent level set for this purpose by Department of Social Protection. If you apply for rent allowance for a house/flat with a higher rent you may be refused rent allowance for that house. You may be asked to find a house with a lower rent. You must pay the first €24 per week of the rent yourself. As a guide, your maximum rent allowance will be the relevant amount below for your county, minus €24 per week. The table below shows the levels of the total amount of rent payable in each county.
Maximum Monthly Rent Levels eligible for Rent Allowance
These amounts are effective from June 2010. They are a guide only, so it is always advisable to check with your local Community Welfare Officer.
Munster
Couple/Lone Parent One Child | Couple/Lone Parent Two Children | Couple/Lone Parent 3 Children | |
Clare | 550 | 600 | 650 |
Cork | 705 | 765 | 800 |
Kerry | 550 | 640 | 650 |
Limerick | 605 | 650 | 700 |
Tipperary | 550 | 640 | 655 |
Waterford | 550 | 650 | 660 |
Connaught
Couple/Lone Parent One Child | Couple/Lone Parent Two Children | Couple/Lone Parent 3 Children | |
Galway | 700 | 750 | 760 |
Mayo | 550 | 600 | 610 |
Roscommon | 450 | 500 | 520 |
Sligo | 540 | 550 | 600 |
Leitrim | 400 | 450 | 500 |
Ulster (Republic of Ireland only)
Couple/Lone Parent 1 Child | Couple/Lone Parent 2 Children | Couple/Lone Parent 3 Children | |
Donegal | 500 | 550 | 560 |
Cavan | 450 | 500 | 510 |
Monaghan | 500 | 540 | 550 |
Leinster
Couple/Lone ParentOne Child | Couple/Lone ParentTwo Children | Couple/Lone Parent3 Children | |
Carlow | 600 | 650 | 660 |
Dublin | 930 | 1,050 | 1,100 |
Kildare | 750 | 850 | 900 |
Kilkenny | 600 | 650 | 665 |
Laois | 550 | 590 | 600 |
Longford | 400 | 450 | 500 |
Louth | 600 | 685 | 700 |
Meath | 650 | 700 | 750 |
Offaly | 550 | 590 | 600 |
Westmeath | 550 | 590 | 600 |
Wexford | 600 | 650 | 660 |
Wicklow | 850 | 900 | 910 |