Home Choice Loan
Home Choice Loan provides up to 92% of the market value of a property purchased by first time buyers. The maximum loan amount is €285,000. Home Choice Loan offers one variable interest rate of 4.2%. See www.homechoiceloan.ie for full information.
Debt Problems
DEBT PROBLEMS If you are having difficulty keeping up with payments it is vital that you immediately inform those you owe (utilities, banks, etc.) and seek advice. Options include:
Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) who advise and can negotiate with creditors (Kilkenny MABS at 8 William St - 056 7761777 or Carlow MABS at 72D Tullow St - 059 9140977)
Utilities offer Easypay options and even pre-payment meters in some circumstances.
Community Welfare Service of the HSE offer access Supported Housing Payments (see below).
A Mortgage Code of Practice protects you by requiring the lender:- to explore alternatives (like interest only or extending the term); not to apply penalties or force you to abandon a tracker mortgage; not to take legal action for repossession for 12 months (not counting time when you are complying with an agreement or appealing internally, or to the Financial Service Ombudsman).
Supported Housing Payments
If neither partner is working over 29 hours per week, a supplement towards rent or mortgage interest is payable, if, after paying these, you are left with less than €158 (single), €277.80 (married), plus €29.80 for each child. The supplement brings your income back up to this level. You are not eligible if either you or your spouse is working full-time(over 29 hours per week). These ceilings are to be reviewed in 2012. In the means test, Family Income Supplement, PRSI, the cost of travelling to work, and the first €75 plus 25% of the balance of other income(eg part-time work or on a scheme) are disregarded. The first €95.23 of maintenance payments is assessed, above that, the income disregard applies.
To be eligible for supplement on Mortgage Interest:
• The loan must have been for the purchase, repair or essential improvement of your home, and
• The interest is no greater than the rent ceiling for a household of similar composition. If not, supplement is restricted to 12 months.
Mortgage Interest Supplement can be retained on a tapered basis over 4 years after returning to work, where gross household income (after PRSI and travel to work) doesn’t exceed €317.43.
To be eligible for the rent supplement you must be:
• Either already renting (or in homeless accommodation) for at least six months, or already on
the Council’s housing needs list.
• Otherwise you must be first assessed by the Council as in housing need
No supplement will be paid where the rent exceeds the ceilings for different family size.
People going back to full-time work (>29 hours) can only retain eligibility for supplement if the Council has deemed them eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
Rent Accomodation Scheme
You can qualify for RAS if you are in need of housing and have been getting Rent Supplement (in general for a period of 18 months or more). Under RAS, the Council enters into a long-term contract with a Private Landlord, you pay an income related Rent . If you take up work you still get a subsidized rent. If the Landlord withdraws, the council is obliged to secure another tenancy for the family
(For details, Kilkenny 056 7752699 or Carlow 059 9170300).
Housing Aid for Pensioners
Older people or those with incapacities can get grants for home improvements from the Local Authorities(Kilkenny 056 7752699 & Carlow 059 9170300). The full grants below apply if the gross income of the owner and their spouse is less than €30,000, dropping on a graduated basis to 30%
for incomes €54,000 - €65,000, but no grant over that. They are:
• Housing Aid For Older People – Up to 100% grant in owner occupied homes, for persons age 60 or over, of up to €10,500 for necessary improvements – rewiring, roof repair, central heating (where none), and replacing of existing boiler when broken beyond repair. Subject to availability of funding.
• Mobility Aids – Up to 100% grant of up to €6,000 to address mobility problems, certifi ed by a doctor (e.g. rails, ramps, stair-lifts and level access showers) in owned or private rented homes where the annual household income is under €30,000. Subject to availability of funding.
• Housing Adaptation (Disability) – Up to 95% grant of up to €30,000 to adapt a home to suit the needs of a person with an enduring disability (e.g. downstairs toilet/showers, wheelchair adaptation, extension etc.) in owned or private rented homes. The works must be certified necessary by a doctor and may require an Occupational Therapist Report. Subject to availability of funding.
Safer Homes
• Locks, chain reinforcing, security lighting and “pendant” alarms are now available on a year-round basis from certain Voluntary Agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, (with funding from Social Welfare).
• Age Action Ireland has a team of volunteers available to do odd jobs for pensioners. They also have a list of honest and trustworthy tradesmen. (Lo Call) 1890 369 369.
Greener Homes
Sustainable Energy Ireland (tel. 1805 734 734) provides grants to homeowners for insulation of attic(€200), Cavity Wall (€250), Internal Wall (€1,800-detached), €1,350(semi) €900(apartment), External Wall (€3,600-detached), €2,700(semi), €1,800(apartment), Heater Control with boiler upgrade(€560), heating controls upgrade only(€400), solar heating(€800). The solar grant is to incentivise investment in small solar systems in the average home. Among the insulation works you can get a grant of €50 for a Building Energy Rating(BER). Grants wil typically cover 20-30% of the full cost. energy savings of up to %50 can be achieved.
External wall insulation: Before installing external insulation, you should first apply to your local authority for a Declaration of Exemption form(cost: €80), as you may need planning permission.
For Taxation 2012 click here
For Social Welfare 2012 click here
For Health 2012 click here
For Options for the Unemployed & Education 2012 click here
