10 steps to apply for Rent Supplement
Rent
Supplement is paid by the HSE
to people living in private rented
accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation
from their own resources. In general, you will qualify for a rent
supplement,
if your only income is a social welfare or Health Services Executive
(HSE) payment.
In 10 easy
steps you can successfully Find a Property and apply for the HSE Rent
Supplement
Steps 1-5 will take you through
the stages of securing appropriate accommodation:
Finding a
Property-:
If
you
are 18 years or older and have decided to make the move to private
rented accommodation and would like to apply for Rent Supplement to
the HSE, follow the outlined steps to complete the application
process.
You
are responsible for finding your own property. The best way to look
for a rental property is through local estate agents, property web
pages (See Daft.ie & MyHome.ie) and by monitoring local notice boards/newspapers which will
list available properties in the area where you want to live.
STEP
1: Decide where you want to live: Decide
on the neighbourhood/s in which you would like to live, consider ease
of access to family, transport, shopping, education/work, community
facilities etc. Check which is the local City or County Council for
this area.
STEP
2:
Register on the local Social Housing List: Make
sure that you are registered on the Local Council Social Housing List
of the area in which you want to live.
Step
3:
Access Checklist:
Write out an access checklist which applies to your personal access
needs and requirements. If you are a wheelchair user, your access
checklist should include such questions as; is there level access
into the dwelling? Is there a lift if the dwelling is above ground
floor? What size is the bathroom? Is the bathroom a wet room? What
width is the hallway and doors? Is the living/kitchen area open plan?
etc. Click here for a basic IWA access checklist
STEP
4: Finding
a suitable property:
Begin looking for a suitable property to rent using websites,
property web-pages and by contacting local estate agents to discuss
available accommodation in the area you have chosen to live, and
which potentially meet your personal housing requirements.
STEP
5:
Arrange
a viewing:
Arrange
an appointment to view the properties that seem most suitable to your
requirements.
When
you find a property that you are satisfied with, and you have agreed
appropriate terms and conditions with the landlord, you then must
inform the landlord,
that you will now be applying for the HSE Rent Supplement. Ensure the
landlord is willing to accept the rent supplement payment and proceed
with the leasing contract only when your application for HSE Rent
Supplement has been approved.
Steps
6-10 Making a Rent Supplement Application:
Steps 6-10 will take you through
the stages of submitting a successful Rent Supplement application to
the HSE.
STEP
6:
Contact your local HSE Community Welfare Officer:
You must contact the Community Welfare Officer with responsibility
for Rent Supplement Applications in the area/region in which you have
decided to live. (Ring
the local health centre for the name and contact details for this
person).
Visit the health centre on the relevant day and time when the
Community Welfare Officer has their clinic to begin the application
process.
STEP
7:
Consider
the need to bring Supporting Letters: If
the property that you wish to rent is above the HSE’s set
local rent limit because of access or PA requirements
it is recommended to bring supporting letters from your GP and
supporting disability organisation to explain and confirm the need
for this particular dwelling. Enquiries about set local rent limits
can be made to the local HSE Community Welfare Officer
STEP 8: Rent Supplement Application process: Visit
the Community Welfare Officer in the local Health Centre on the
appropriate day and time. It is advisable to bring proof of your
income and identity with you and the registered number given to you
by the Council of your Social Housing Application. Also, bring
supporting letters from your GP and supporting disability
organisation. The Community Welfare Officer will complete the
necessary documents and discuss these with you. They will then give
you a form that your new landlord should complete. The Community
Welfare Officer may visit the property also.
STEP
9:
Rent
Supplement Form:
The
landlord must complete the necessary section of the Rent Supplement
Application Form and you must return this to the HSE Community
Welfare Officer. This is the final stage of the application process;
you will be notified very quickly either by phone or in person of the
outcome of your application.
STEP
10:
Assistance:
If you need assistance with
any of the above STEPS consider asking family or friends or
ask a staff person in your local IWA centre. Click here to find your nearest IWA Centre
For
more complete information
on Rent Supplement see: The
Citizens Information Board at:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories
and The Department of Social Protection at:
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/pages/swa_rent.aspx
