Eligibility for housing assistance

The department provides housing assistance to those with the greatest need. You must meet all of the eligibility criteria to receive assistance.

1. Residency

You must be a Queensland resident. If interstate applicants can demonstrate and provide evidence of a definite need to move to Queensland, this Queensland residency requirement may be waived.

You can apply for housing assistance if you meet all other eligibility criteria and:

• are an Australian citizen
• have been granted permanent residency status
• have been granted a Permanent Protection Visa or a Resolution of Status Visa
• qualify for permanent residency status through agreements between Australia and another country
• have a Bridging Visa and have applied for a Protection Visa or a Resolution of Status Visa
• hold a Temporary Protection Visa or
• hold a Bridging Visa if you previously held a Temporary Protection Visa which has expired.

If you have applied for permanent residency, a Permanent Protection Visa or a Resolution of Status Visa, but are not yet a permanent resident, you can apply for housing assistance and, if eligible, be placed on the housing register. However, you will not be offered housing assistance until you become a permanent resident.

2. Property

You or a household member must not own or part-own property within Australia or overseas including:

• a residential home including a house, flat, unit or townhouse
• vacant residential land including rural property, or
• commercial and/or industrial property.

Some exceptions apply. For example, in circumstances such as domestic violence, marriage breakdown, extreme hardship, or if the vacant land is in a natural disaster area, we will assess your circumstances.

If you own a caravan but are affected by the closure of the caravan park you live in, you may still be eligible.

If you own or part-own property and need housing assistance, discuss your situation with the department.

3. Liquid assets limit

Your household's combined liquid assets must be within the current limit for your household size. The liquid assets of all household members are added together to make up the household liquid assets.

Liquid assets include:

• money in the bank
• shares, fixed investments, managed funds
• property trusts
• superannuation payouts (if you have reached the preservation age), and
• the value of caravans, mobile homes and live-aboard boats.

Different liquid assets limits apply for single person households and households with two or more people.

• Single-person household: $80,437.50
• Two or more household members: $100,000.00

4. Independent income

You must have an independent income which is earned in Queensland, and at least one applicant in the household must:

• receive an independent income amount of $199.84 per week and
• have received this income for at least four weeks immediately before applying for housing assistance.

If you hold a Temporary Protection Visa or reside in a correctional facility, and do not have an independent income, you may apply for housing assistance and, if eligible, be placed on the housing register. You will not be offered housing until you receive an independent income.

At least one applicant must receive the minimum independent income stated above. Any other household member who has no income, a very low income or cannot identify or verify their income will be assessed as having an income based on the Equivalent Centrelink Payment.

The Equivalent Centrelink Payment is the payment that most closely aligns with your circumstances, even if you do not qualify or meet the payment requirements. The Equivalent Centrelink Payment depends on, but is not limited to, your age, marital status, whether you live at or away from home, and if you have children.

5. Household income

You must have an independent income to be eligible for housing assistance. You will need to provide the gross weekly assessable income of your household, which is the combined income of all household members. Some income, such as certain allowances paid by Centrelink, is not included as weekly assessable income.

The household's combined gross weekly assessable income must be less than:

The gross weekly assessable income

Income	Household type
$609	single person, no children.
$755	single person, one child couple with no children, or two single people.
$877	single person, two children couple with one child couple and one single person two single people and one child, or three single people.
$999	single person, three or more children couple with two children three single people and one child two single people with two children, or four single people.
$1121	couple with three or more children five single people one couple with two children and one single person two couples with one or more children one couple, one single person and two or more children, or other households with five or more people including at least two adults.

6. Appropriateness of current housing

You must meet at least one of the following criteria to demonstrate that your current housing does not meet your housing needs:

• You are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• You need to live in a particular location in order to access essential services gain employment, meet cultural obligations, gain access to children or for family/informal support.
• The design and/or size of your current housing does not meet your household's needs or there are health and safety risks.
• You are paying an unaffordable amount of your income in rent.
• You have a disability or mental illness and need to establish an indpendent household.
• You are a young person exiting the care of the State and transition planning is underway.

Applying for housing assistance

Contact your nearest Housing Service Centre to make an appointment for an interview to discuss your eligibility and housing needs, for example:

• where you want to live
• how many bedrooms you are entitled to
• specific housing needs you or your household may have.

Our staff will advise which documents you will need to bring to the interview.

It is an offence under the Housing Act 2003 to knowingly provide to the department false or misleading information that may influence decisions about your eligibility for housing services.

Reviewing eligibility for housing assistance

We will regularly review your eligibility while you are listed on the housing register. Before an offer of housing is made, your eligibility will again be reviewed against all eligibility criteria. If you are no longer eligible, you will not be offered housing assistance and your application will be removed from the housing register.

If you are not eligible but your circumstances have changed (for example, your household income reduces) please contact your nearest Housing Service Centre to discuss your situation.

For further information

Please contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.