Special Assistance Subsidy - Disability - SAS0100B

Policy

The Special Assistance Subsidy - Disability (SAS-D) is paid to people with a disability who:

• Are approved for Priority Housing, or
• Have reached their turn on the public housing list

while they wait for a suitable Housing NSW dwelling. This ensures they are not financially disadvantaged while they wait. The subsidy contributes to their weekly rent in the private market while they wait to be housed in public housing. This means that Housing NSW pays the difference between the amount the applicant pays and reasonable market rent. The amount of rent a client pays is similar to the amount they would pay as a public housing tenant.

For more information on this policy, look in Entitlement, Background and Business Rules.

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Entitlement

Applicants who are approved for Priority Housing are eligible for the Special Assistance Subsidy - Disability while waiting for Housing NSW to provide  suitable accommodation. They are eligible for this subsidy from the day they are approved for Priority Housing.

Clients with a disability who have reached their turn on the public housing waiting list may also be eligible for the Special Assistance Subsidy - Disability if Housing NSW cannot provide suitable accommodation.

Under certain circumstances Housing NSW may assist other approved Priority Housing applicants with SAS-D while they wait for suitable public housing accommodation.

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Background

People with a disability sometimes require special accommodation that is in high demand and that cannot be immediately provided by Housing NSW. In some cases the lack of appropriate public housing means that they may have to wait much longer than non-disabled clients for suitable accommodation to become available. To prevent people with a disability being disadvantaged, Housing NSW subsidises their accommodation in the private market so that they only pay the same as other public tenants.

The SAS-D allows clients with a disability to access affordable accommodation while Housing NSW finds them suitable accommodation.

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Business Rules

The SAS-D makes up the difference between the amount the client pays and reasonable market rent for a dwelling comparable to Housing NSW dwellings.

‘Reasonable market rent’ means the rent being charged is close to typical market rents for the area. Housing NSW uses the median rent as determined by the Rental Bond Board as a benchmark.

Clients must provide proof of income for all members of the household aged 18 years and over. Proof of income can be:

• Through the Income Confirmation Scheme see Income Confirmation Scheme (EST0200A)
• Income Statement from Centrelink
• Income Statement from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• Form B completed by the client’s employer
• Group Certificate
• Profit and loss statement or taxation return for self employed clients
• Letter from an Overseas Government
• Letter from Workcover or Insurance company
• Letter from Finance organisation about investments etc

Where clients participate in the Income Confirmation Scheme (ICS), Housing NSW will use Centrelink’s assessment of their statutory income.  If a client participates in ICS and has income in addition to their Centrelink payment, Housing NSW will ask for proof of this income. This is due to differences between Centrelink and Housing NSW policies for assessing incomes.

If a client does not participate in ICS, Housing NSW will assess their income based on the information provided to Housing NSW.

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Eligibility 

A person is considered to be disabled if their ability to function is impaired or they have a medical condition that:

• Is due to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical condition or combination of conditions
• Is permanent or likely to be permanent, and
• Results in:
  • A substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility
  • The need for ongoing support services, or
  • An inability to obtain housing from the private rental market.

Housing NSW's focus is on the effect the disability has on the individual’s ability to find and keep suitable and affordable housing located near necessary health or support facilities. Having a disability does not automatically guarantee access to SAS-D.

To be eligible for SAS-D, clients must be eligible for public housing. For more information refer to the Priority Housing (ALL0040A).

They must also have been approved for Priority Housing. See the policy on Priority Housing (ALL0040A).

Clients will need to provide suitable documentary evidence to support their application for Priority Housing and SAS-D.

In some cases Housing NSW cannot provide a suitable home for people with a disability who have reached their turn on the public housing waiting list. We may grant SAS-D to help them access accommodation in the private rental market until a suitable Housing NSW dwelling becomes available.

The SAS-D is provided on a short-term basis. Clients are required to move to a suitable Housing NSW dwelling when one becomes available. If a client refuses two reasonable offers of housing, their SAS-D will cease.

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Calculating the Subsidy

As long as the rent charged by the landlord is reasonable, the amount of rent the client actually pays is similar to the amount they would pay as a public housing tenant. See the policy on Rental Subsidies (SUB0044A).

From 5 June 2006, the rate of assessment increased from 20% to 25% of income (not including Commonwealth Rent Assistance).  All clients who commence a SAS tenancy on or after 5 June 2006 will contribute 25% of their income towards the rent.

For current SAS clients, the increase will take effect from when their next subsidy review is conducted on, or after, 5 June 2006.

Clients who receive the Special Assistance Subsidy are entitled to receive Commonwealth Rent Assistance as they are not public housing tenants and are renting in the private sector. When assessing the household income it will be presumed that a client is in receipt of Commonwealth Rental Assistance even if they have not applied to Centrelink for this income.

Commonwealth Rent Assistance is intended to contribute towards rent. When calculating the subsidy provided to new clients and existing SAS clients relocating to a new address, we will assess 100% of the Commonwealth Rent Assistance as being contributed towards rent. 

Before 24 August 1998 clients contributed only 20% of their Commonwealth Rent Assistance in rent. These  clients continue to contribute 20% of their Commonwealth Rent Assistance in rent while they stay at the same address. If they are required to relocate because the tenancy is terminated by the landlord for a reason other than a breach of the Tenancy Agreement (for example, property sale or redevelopment), they will continue to contribute only 20% of their Commonwealth Rent Assistance in rent for a new tenancy.

A carer’s income is included in the calculations if they are living with the client. It is excluded if they are not.

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Reviewing the Subsidy

Tenants do not need to reapply for SAS-D each year. However, we will, regularly review the income details of SAS clients receiving a subsidy and their entitlement to receive it.  This is called a scheduled SAS Review.

When we are informed about any changes to the tenant's household or household income, we will assess the subsidy to ensure that the household is paying the correct amount of rent.  This is called an Individual SAS Review.

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Change of Circumstances

SAS clients must tell us within 28 days about any changes of circumstances as this may affect the assessment of their subsidy level. If they do not inform us about any changes to their household or household income, the household may be charged the wrong amount of rent. In some cases this may result in money owing to Housing NSW.

• Housing NSW must be informed of any changes in:
• Household complement
• Household income
• Rent
• Address

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Priority Housing applicants who are homeless or at risk in current housing   

From 20 April 2009, SAS-D may be offered to any applicant with priority approved status, regardless of whether they have a disability if Housing NSW assesses that:

they or a member of their household is at risk in their current housing, and Housing NSW is not able to offer a social housing property within a reasonable timeframe, or
the household is homeless and Housing NSW assesses that without SAS-D assistance they would be required to remain in temporary accommodation for an unreasonable period of time.
There arrangements are interim and will be reviewed in January 2010.

Public Housing Tenants Approved for Transfer

Public Housing tenants approved for transfer who meet the eligibility criteria for Special Assistance Subsidy - Disability (SAS-D) may be eligible to receive a subsidy to live in private rental accommodation while they are waiting for suitable Housing NSW accommodation to become available.

Tenants who meet the eligibility criteria for SAS-D must be approved for SAS before vacating their Housing NSW property and moving into private accommodation. 

Tenants approved for SAS-D will pay a similiar amount to what they would normally pay as a public housing tenant.  They must apply for Commonwealth Rental Assistance and this amount will be included in the assessment of their contribution towards rent.  Housing NSW will pay the difference between their contribution and reasonable rent charged.  They may also be eligible for Rentstart to help with establishment costs of a private tenancy such as rental bond.  See the policy on Rentstart (RES0010A).

Transferring public housing tenants will be provided with SAS subsidy on a short term basis.  If a client refuses two reasonable offers of public or community housing then their SAS-D subsidy will cease.  Their name will be removed from the Transfer Register and they will no longer be listed for public housing.

For more information on transfer policy see Transfers (previously Rehousing (ALL0160A).

Public housing tenants who are on a fixed term lease, before transferring into a SAS tenancy in the private sector, will be offered a new 2, 5 or 10 year fixed term lease based on an assessment of current household circumstances when they accept an offer of alternative public housing.

Public housing tenants who are on a continuous lease before transferring into a SAS tenancy in the private sector, will retain their entitlement to a continuous lease when they return to a public housing property.

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SAS clients moving into Public Housing  

Priority approved applicants receiving SAS and on the housing register will be offered a tenancy when a suitable public housing property becomes available. The type and length of the Tenancy Agreement offered will depend on the allocation date.
SAS clients will be offered:

• a 2, 5 or 10 year fixed term lease based on an assessment of their current household circumstances see the Types and Length of Lease policy (EST0208A).

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Appealing Decisions or Actions  

If a client disagrees with a decision Housing NSW has made, they should first discuss their concerns with a Client Service Officer. The next step if they still believe we made the wrong decision is to ask for a formal review of the decision. For information on how reviews work, the client can ask the Client Service Officer for a copy of the fact sheet Reviewing Decisions (PDF file, 397 KB), or read the policy on Appeals and Review of Decisions (EST0015A).

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