PENSIONERS willing to rent rooms to students won’t need to worry about medical card income thresholds.
That’s according to Limerick Senator Maria Byrne, highlighting approved changes in the Government’s Rent A Room scheme which include an income disregard extension for medical card holders and social welfare recipients.
Senator Byrne said: “I want to assure pensioners and social welfare recipients that renting a room is a viable option for them to pursue if they wish – with no penalties.”
“I raised this issue before in the context of a number of queries from pensioners who were willing to rent a room to a student, but were discouraged from doing so for fear the income earned would push them outside the medical card income threshold.”
The Limerick senator went on: “The weekly gross medical card income threshold was increased in 2020 for those aged 70 and over and is currently €550 per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple. This was a positive development in relation to healthcare for the elderly, and I’m pleased that they also have the choice to earn additional income from an extra room in their house without being penalised.”
“As leaving cert examinations draw to a close, we are hearing more about the difficulty students face in sourcing accommodation. Renting ‘digs’ in a household was traditionally a safe and economical way for students to attend college in towns and cities away from their home. The Rent a Room scheme incentivises both parties to consider this option.”
“I want to assure pensioners and social welfare recipients that renting a room is a viable option for them to pursue if they wish – with no penalties,” she concluded.
