Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
542. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidance provided to local authorities in regard to the assessment of savings when it comes to assessing income for social housing support, in particular when it concerns a disabled person whose savings are a result of receiving an inheritance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71331/25]
View answerThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different bands according to the area concerned, with income defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities have discretion to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
My Department issued a guidance note March of 2021 to assist local authorities when applying the Household Means Policy which stated savings are relevant to the income assessment only in so far as they generate an income for applicants, by way of dividend or interest. Should an inheritance generate income by way of dividend or interest then the dividend or interest may be relevant in the income assessment.
More detail on what income is assessable and the full list of disregards is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/
