Vol. 535 No. 4
217 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will instruct the South-Eastern Health Board to process the appeal lodged on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny on 1 November 2000 in respect of her rent allowance; and if he will make a statement on the reason for the delay in having this particular case processed. [12866/01]
The supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards and neither I nor my Department has any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases or in relation to appeals lodged with health boards concerning decisions made on claims. Each health board is required to set reasonable maximum rent levels, which are reviewed regularly, in respect of various classes of persons, for example, single persons, couples, lone parents with one child, etc., as a basis for calculating the amount of rent supplement payable. The limits are set using local knowledge as to what constitutes a reasonable rent for private rented accommodation for various household types within and across the health board area. If any tenant is experiencing difficulties, the health boards have discretion to award a supplement based on an amount of rent which exceeds the maximum level set where there are extenuating medical or social circumstances having regard to the applicant's means and all the other requirements of the legislation.
The case raised by the Deputy concerns a single person living in the South-Eastern Health Board region. That board has advised that the maximum reasonable rent limit for a single person in its area is £70 per week whereas she is currently paying rent of £103.85 per week. She is the sole occupant of a three bedroom house. The community welfare officer advised her that she was over accommodated and suggested that she should either seek more suitable accommodation or advertise for two other tenants to share the house. In the meantime, the person concerned is currently in receipt of a rent supplement of £36.20 per week. This takes into account the household size and the amount of income that the person has.
As stated by the Deputy, an appeal on medical grounds was lodged with the health board in November 2000 regarding payment of rent supplement at the address in question. The health board has further advised that the reason for the delay in processing the appeal is that an up to date medical report that was requested from the person concerned is still outstanding. As soon as the medical report is made available to the health board the appeal will be processed immediately.
