While Budget 2011 didn't make any changes to the Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplement (RMIS) schemes per se, there will be changes on foot of the budget reductions to SW rates of payment.
When calculating entitlement to RMIS, the household income (e.g SW) is compared with the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for the family size. If there is a difference between the two amounts (called "income in excess"), the RMIS applicant is expected to pay that difference, plus the minimum contribution towards the rent or mortgage.
A simple example to illustrate:
Single Person on Invalidity Pension (2010 rates) - 201.50
Single SWA rate - 196.00
Income in excess 5.50
Applicant is expected to pay the income in excess (5.50) + the minimum contribution of 24 euro per week towards their rent or mortgage.
For several years, the SWA rate has been the same as Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit, Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance and One Parent Family Payment. There was no income in excess if there was no other income or savings to be assessed.
Budget 2011 reduced the Personal Rate for the SW schemes listed above by €8 except for SWA which was reduced by €10.
This means that people whose incomes are one of the schemes listed now have income in excess of €2pw which must be paid towards rent or mortgage. As a consequence, RMIS entitlements for many customers will be reduced by €2 pw or €8.67 per calendar month.
Changes take effect from this week, 3rd January 2011.
When calculating entitlement to RMIS, the household income (e.g SW) is compared with the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for the family size. If there is a difference between the two amounts (called "income in excess"), the RMIS applicant is expected to pay that difference, plus the minimum contribution towards the rent or mortgage.
A simple example to illustrate:
Single Person on Invalidity Pension (2010 rates) - 201.50
Single SWA rate - 196.00
Income in excess 5.50
Applicant is expected to pay the income in excess (5.50) + the minimum contribution of 24 euro per week towards their rent or mortgage.
For several years, the SWA rate has been the same as Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit, Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance and One Parent Family Payment. There was no income in excess if there was no other income or savings to be assessed.
Budget 2011 reduced the Personal Rate for the SW schemes listed above by €8 except for SWA which was reduced by €10.
This means that people whose incomes are one of the schemes listed now have income in excess of €2pw which must be paid towards rent or mortgage. As a consequence, RMIS entitlements for many customers will be reduced by €2 pw or €8.67 per calendar month.
Changes take effect from this week, 3rd January 2011.