Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Thomasina Connell, has highlighted the recent increase in the income threshold for Social Housing with Laois County Council.
This has now been brought up to €35,000 from January 1 and Cllr Connell believes many more people will become eligible.
The revised thresholds for Social Housing Applicants are as follows:
- Single Adult €35,000
- 2 Adults €36,750
- 1 Adult and 1 Child €35,875
- 1 Adult and 2 Children €36,750
- 2 Adults and 1 Child €37,625
- 2 Adults and 3 Children €39,375
- 3 Adults and 4 Children €42,000
Cllr Connell said: “Since the 1st January 2023 the income threshold allowable to apply for Social Housing with Laois County Council has increased significantly.
“The income threshold for a single adult applicant is now €35,000, an increase from the threshold which applied for over a decade, of €25,000.
“This means that more people will be eligible to apply for Social Housing then ever before.”
Once an applicant has had their application approved and been placed on the Council’s Housing List they become eligible for Housing Assitance Payment (HAP) whereby a portion of their rent in private rented accommodation is subsidised by the County Council.
Cllr Connell said: “It is essential that our Constituents across County Laois are made aware of this change as there will be a huge traunch of people now eligible to apply for Social Housing and HAP for the first time.
“These are people who would never previously have been able to seek assistance for Housing on the basis of their income being too high.
“I welcome the considerable increase in the income threshold in light of the soaring cost of accommodation across the entire Country, no more so than in County Laois.
“I am confident that it will go some way to ensuring Social Housing Supports are available to vulnerable houesholds and help protect those most at risk as a result of the recent increases in the cost of living.
“Applicants who previously applied to Laois County Council for Social Housing and were refused on the basis of their income can now reapply since the January 1, 2023 and have their application reconsidered. They should do this immediately.”
Any queries in relation to the new thresholds can be sent to Cllr. Connell directly by email, tconnell@laoiscouncillors.ie or to housing@laoiscoco.ie
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