People receiving social welfare can earn up to €14,000 a year without impacting their support payments.
The regulations state that social welfare recipients can rent out a room in their house for up to €14,000 a year without affecting their payments. The income from renting out a room will not be included in the means testing for welfare payments.
The measures were put in place last year by Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys to remove barriers facing people receiving social welfare who chose to accommodate people in their homes. The benefit is in line with the Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme which lets you earn up to €14,000 a year tax-free.
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This means people will be able to earn that amount without impacting other payments such as Fuel Allowance and Household Benefits Package.
Additionally, those living alone will also be able to rent out a room in their homes without affecting their Living Alone Allowance. Although these measures were announced last year to encourage people to host students and Ukrainian refugees, the exemption has been extended to ease the homeless crisis due to the eviction ban being lifted.
On Wednesday, the Government won a vote on the eviction ban by 83 votes to 68. Sinn Fein, the Labour Party, People Before Profit and the Rural Independents all voted against the Government.
Minister Humphreys previously said this was "particularly important in light of the challenges posed by the crisis in Ukraine and is part of the government’s overall response". She said last year: "This is a positive step designed to remove barriers facing social welfare customers."
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