Rent Supplement If You Work Part-Time

The €75 earnings disregard

When DSP calculates your Rent Supplement payment, the first €75 of your weekly net earnings from part-time work is not counted as income. This is called the earnings disregard. It means you can earn up to €75 per week without it affecting your payment at all.

Any earnings above €75 per week are assessed in full and reduce your Rent Supplement payment euro-for-euro.

You must still be on a qualifying payment

Working part-time does not automatically disqualify you from Rent Supplement — but you must remain on a qualifying social welfare payment. If your part-time earnings are high enough that you no longer qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance or another qualifying payment, your Rent Supplement will also stop.

Reporting your earnings

You must report any change in your earnings to DSP immediately. If you start a part-time job while receiving Rent Supplement, contact your community welfare officer and let them know. They will reassess your payment.

If your hours increase, decrease, or you stop working altogether, you must report this too. DSP will adjust your payment accordingly.

What if you get full-time work?

If your hours increase to 30 or more per week, you must inform DSP. Your Rent Supplement will stop. At this point, you should explore HAP — the Housing Assistance Payment — which is specifically designed for people who work full-time and need help with rent. Unlike Rent Supplement, HAP continues in full-time employment.

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