Earlier changes

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:

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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:

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:

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:

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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: