need some advice regarding rent allowance

hi all,
i need some advice regarding my situation, im a single parent living in my mams 2 bedroomed house with my 9yr old son,im in full time education and recieving back to education allowance, i also recieve a monthly grant from the VEC. For reasons that cant be avoided we have to move out of my mams. I have my name down on the coporation but i have very little points so ill be another few years waiting to be housed. There is no way i can afford to rent, can anyone tell me if i can apply for rent allowance and if im entiltled to it.
Ive tried to include all revelent information but if you need more just ask.
Thanks

This will depend on how long you are on the housing list. New rules require that you either be in privated rented accomodation for 6 months OR have been assessed by local authority as being in need of housing within the 12 months preceeding the claim. If your assessment is not that recent, you will have to apply to the local authority for a housing assessment. However, you should contact your local Community Welfare Officer to confirm this will be necessary. The other qualifying condition is that you are receiving a social welfare payment which you are, in the form of a back to education allowance. It is means tested but the maintenance grant is not assessed against you for Rent Supplement. Hope that helps....

Thanks so much.

My understanding of the rent supplements is as follows. In order to be eligible you must first have been living in rented accommodation for a period of 6 months in the twelve months prior to application or you must have being assessed by the local authority as having a housing need. In relation to the BTES I think that you can qualify to RETAIN your rent supplement when you go on this scheme but if you are not already in receipt of a rent supplement prior to commencing a BTEA then you may not be eligible as people in full time education are not normally eligible for supplementary welfare allowance. However, if you do not qualify for a rent supplement it is open to you to apply for an insufficient income supplement in lieu of the rent supplement. Oh and dont forget that if you are refused, you always have a right to appeal the decision to the Appeals Officer employed by the HSE and failing that you can apply to the Chief Appeals Officer