Housing Assistance Payment

‌Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a new social housing support which is being introduced in Donegal on a phased basis. Over time, HAP will replace Rent Supplement for those with a long term housing need.  Persons applying for HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) must be a qualified housing applicant(s) before they can apply for HAP.

If you are eligible as an approved housing applicant, you must find your own private rented accommodation (within specific rent caps - see below). The Local Authority will pay the landlord directly and the tenant will pay a rent to the local authority based on the differential rent scheme.  The rent will be based on your weekly household income and works in a similar way to the differential rents charged for local authority houses.

See the Tenant and Landlord booklets below for more detailed information.‌

Housing Assistance Payment Tenant Booklet

Housing Assistance Payment Tenant Booklet Gaeilge

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Housing Assistance Payment Landlord Booklet

Housing Assistance Payment Landlord Booklet Gaeilge

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Housing Assistance Payment Leaflet English

Housing Assistance Payment Leaflet Gaeilge

 Maximum Monthly Rent Cap Limits for County Donegal

Changes to the Housing Assistance Payment Discretionary Levels.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has announced changes to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) discretionary levels.  

The change provides that the discretionary increase rate of 20% can be increased to a maximum of 35%.  This applies to both new and existing tenancies and can be considered on receipt of an application from the tenant if they consider their tenancy is unaffordable. 

In addition, the Local Authority can apply a couple rate to a single person household where required.  The current HAP cap for a single person is €340 and for a couple is €370.  The rationale is that both single and couple households have a one bedroom need.  The rate change should only be applied where the application of the discretionary 35% increase to the single rate is not sufficient.  This measure is temporary in nature and will only apply to new tenants.  The measure cannot be applied retrospectively as new tenancies are at a higher cost than those already in place and current single tenancies may request a review of the 20% discretionary increase to 35%.

The changes became effective from the 11^th July 2022 and will be in place until the 1^st July 2024, pending further review.   Further details are available from any of our Public Service Centres/Lifford Headquarters and at 074 9153900.