Richard Boyd Barrett: Workers Lose Social Housing for Pay Rises
Richard Boyd Barrett challenges the government over social housing income thresholds after workers are removed from waiting lists when they receive small pay increases. He presses the Minister for action so people who progress at work do not lose their housing chance.
Richard Boyd Barrett raised the issue in the chamber, describing workers who are struck off social housing lists because they receive pay rises, increments or family income supports. He asked when the social housing income thresholds will be raised so working people have a realistic chance of being housed.
He cited the case of a civil servant who lost years of waiting time on a housing list after receiving family income supplement. Boyd Barrett stressed that these people still cannot afford cost rental, affordable housing, or the open market despite the small increases that disqualify them.
The Taoiseach acknowledged the problem and said the matter is under active consideration in terms of raising the income thresholds. The Taoiseach noted the issue had been raised before and is being examined.
Boyd Barrett framed the exchange as an ongoing demand for policy change to prevent pay progression from becoming a penalty. The exchange underscores pressure on the Department of Housing to adjust eligibility rules so working households are not pushed out of social housing lists.
Parliamentary question
Richard Boyd Barrett raised the issue in the chamber, describing workers who are struck off social housing lists because they receive pay rises, increments or family income supports. He asked when the social housing income thresholds will be raised so working people have a realistic chance of being housed.
Personal case highlighted
He cited the case of a civil servant who lost years of waiting time on a housing list after receiving family income supplement. Boyd Barrett stressed that these people still cannot afford cost rental, affordable housing, or the open market despite the small increases that disqualify them.
Minister's response
The Taoiseach acknowledged the problem and said the matter is under active consideration in terms of raising the income thresholds. The Taoiseach noted the issue had been raised before and is being examined.
Implications and next steps
Boyd Barrett framed the exchange as an ongoing demand for policy change to prevent pay progression from becoming a penalty. The exchange underscores pressure on the Department of Housing to adjust eligibility rules so working households are not pushed out of social housing lists.
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Transcript
Every week, every month, every year, working people who have been waiting years on social housing lists get thrown off those lists because they get a pay rise, they get an increment, or in the case of one civil servant I was talking to this week, because they get a family income supplement. And they lose their years waiting on the housing list, they haven't got enough income for cost rental, they can't afford affordable housing, they can't afford the open market. When will you, because I've asked you repeatedly, raise the social housing income thresholds so working people in this situation have some chance of being housed? Thank you for raising the issue, and I've spoken to the Minister for Housing in respect of this, and the matter is under active consideration in terms of raising the income thresholds. And it was raised a number of years ago, but the Minister is examining this, and hopefully I'll be back to you before long. For more information visit www.dfid.gov.uk