The rules for qualifying for Rent Supplement can be found on this page on the SW website:
The person cannot be considered for Rent Supplement unless he has either been renting privately (and paying the rent) for 6 of the previous 12 months or has been assessed by the local authority in the area he wishes to live as having a housing need and be on the housing list.
If he meets that rule, then there are maximum rent limits in place - he cannot get rent supplement if he rents property for more than the limit.
Before I was under the impression in this scenario you would get €300 towards your rent and have to pay 50 a week ie 200 a month from your dole DA etc... which is right? Seems mad if you lose your job and get nothing... Especially if you've always been frugal say and have no debts...
So someone paying €500 in rent is suddenly out of work they get nothing but hypothetically rent is reduced to €300 they pay €32 as a single person and the 300 is paid by the state as such? Its hard to get a clear answer when you ask anyone on the phone it seems... How is the rent allowance so low in an area as expensive as DLR how come people dont end up on the street?
If the rent is reduced to €300 per month (€69.20 per week) and a single person is required to pay €32 per week, the Rent Supplement entitlement is 69.2 - 32 = 37.20 pw or €161.20 per month.
thenumberone,
The €300 limit is for a single person in shared accommodation in the Dublin area (except Fingal). The rent limits are at the bottom of the webpage which I referred to in an earlier post.