What's new
25 March 2024
Tenancy reviews - restart
From 25 March 2024, MSD will restart tenancy reviews for eligible tenants. Tenancy reviews will initially focus on tenants who pay market rent and whose tenancy has been for 3 years or longer.
Tenancy reviews help MSD check whether a tenant:
- still qualifies for social housing and
- if they do, whether their social housing property still meets their needs (e.g they may need a larger property)
See:
22 March 2024
Ministerial Direction on Application of Reviews of Continued Eligibility for Social Housing
The following ministerial direction has been updated, effective from 22 March 2024:
These are also available in a hard-copy (PDF) format. See: ministerial directions.
27 February 2024
Temporary Accommodation Assistance - Affected home owned by a Trust.
Information on homes in a Trust has been updated to clarify that when an affected home is owned by a Trust, the trustees may be named as an owner on the property title.
However, this does not make them an owner of the Trust's property. They hold the property as a trustee, not as an owner personally. See:
In approved study and work obligation exemption
An exemption from work obligations is available for some partners and Sole Parent Support clients who are in approved study.
Map has been updated to clarify who qualifies for this exemption, what the conditions are, and how long it can be in place.
See:
- Emergency Benefit In approved study
- Jobseeker Support In approved study
- Jobseeker Support Student Hardship In approved study
- Sole Parent Support In approved study before subject to work obligations
.
13 February 2024
Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment
Map has been updated to clearly state that GCAP is a non-taxable payment.
The information in the following pages has been refreshed and updated, with the relevant links to core policy added. See:
- Introduction
- Qualifications
- Young parent with a partner
- Definition of full-time education, training or work-based learning
As the information in the following pages is included in core policy these have been removed and the relevant pages linked to core policy.
Housing Support Products historical rates last updated 1 April 2022
The historical rates for Housing Support Products were replaced on 1 April 2023. The previous rates last updated on 1 April 2022 are now available under historical rates. See:
- Historical Housing Support Products income limits
- Bond Grant income limits historical rates
- Moving Assistance income limits historical rates
- Rent Arrears Assistance income limits historical rates
- Rent in Advance income limits historical rates
For the current rates see:
.
7 February 2024
Initial stand-down periods
The current initial stand-down periods have been updated with changes to the Gross Average Ordinary Time Weekly Wage (AOTWW) as at 7 February 2024. See:
.
5 February 2024
Flexi-wage
Flexi-wage policy settings have been reviewed and as a result, several changes are being made to improve the product and support better outcomes for our clients.
Changes include:
- changing the maximum payable for bands 1 and 2
- allowing for variable weekly payments for bands 1 and 2
- increasing the amount available for short-term employment-related training
- applying the 52-week maximum to the employer instead of the employee
These changes apply from 5 February 2024.
See:
Legislation
The following welfare programme has been updated, effective from 5 February 2024: