Lack of interest in rent subsidy

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 3

Lack of interest in rent subsidy

PA Wellington Only 600 of the 21,000 lowincome earners eligible for Government subsidies of up to $5O a week on their rent have so far applied for the benefit. The low demand for the special scheme brought in as part of a housing package in April has surprised Government officials. The Minister of Housing, Mr Goff, said yesterday that the part of the $l9 million set aside for the scheme that was not taken up would be used in other areas to help low-income home-seek-ers. The scheme provides an accommodation allowance of up to $5O in high-rent areas such as Wellington

and Auckland, and $4O in other areas. Where rent exceeds $5O a week for families and $4O a week for single persons on incomes of less than $273 (family), $266 (couple), or $209 (single person), twothirds of the extra is paid by the allowance. The full amount is paid where a family,earns less than $194 a week, couples less than $lB7, and a single person less than $l3O, and is cut $5 for every $lO they earn over those figures. Mr Goff said that the scheme was designed to give people on low wages assistance that was already available to welfare beneficiaries. It is paid by the Social Welfare Department.