Rent Supplement
Short-term help with rent for people already renting who cannot meet the cost from their own resources. Largely replaced by the Housing Assistance Payment for long-term need.
- Type
- Means-tested
- Paid
- No fixed amount or schedule
- Taxable
- No
- Administered by
- Department of Social Protection
How much is Rent Supplement?
Varies by rent, income and county
There is no single rate. The supplement is the difference between your rent and what you are assessed as able to pay, subject to maximum rent limits set for each county and household type.
Who can get Rent Supplement
- You must already have been renting when you applied, or meet one of the limited exceptions.
- You must be unable to meet the cost of your rent from your own resources.
- Your rent must be within the limit set for your county and household size.
- You must not be in full-time work (more than 30 hours a week).
The Rent Supplement means test
Means-tested. Only the first €5,000 of capital is disregarded, and there are maximum rent limits by county.
How your savings are assessed
Supplementary Welfare Allowance only. The least generous of the three — only the first €5,000 is disregarded.
| Capital | Weekly means assessed |
|---|---|
| First €5,000 | Nil |
| Next €10,000 | €1 per €1,000 |
| Next €25,000 | €2 per €1,000 |
| Balance | €4 per €1,000 |
Capital means your savings, investments, stocks, shares and any property other than your own home. Your own home is never assessed. Capital belonging to a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is included.
Things people get caught by
- For long-term housing need, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) has largely replaced Rent Supplement. HAP is run by local authorities, not the Department.
What else you might get
Payments interact. These are the ones that commonly go with Rent Supplement.
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
The wider scheme this sits within.