More information about the Ongoing Eligibility policy

The Department of Housing introduced its Ongoing Eligibility policy in November 2006 to assess all tenants' ongoing eligibility for housing assistance.

At this time, a letter about the policy was sent to those households where the tenant and their spouse had a combined income of over $80,000 per year. Information was also provided about the policy in the March 2007 edition of Tenant News.

The department is now assessing tenants' eligibility against the other elements of this policy: property ownership and returning requested information.

Property ownership: You should have received a letter asking if you or anyone in your household owns any property. The department will review each household's property ownership regularly.

If anyone in your household owns or part owns property either in Australia or overseas, you may no longer be eligible for ongoing housing assistance. Ineligible households will be notified in writing and will be given six months to move out of the property.

Returning requested information: All tenants are currently required to provide evidence of their household income whenever there is a change in your circumstances (for example, if you get a pay rise or if a new person joins your household) and during rent reviews.

If you do not return information when requested to do so, the department cannot determine your eligibility for ongoing housing assistance and you will become ineligible for housing assistance. Ineligible households will be notified in writing and will be given six months to move out of the property.

If your household returns all the requested information, the department can complete an assessment of your eligibility for ongoing housing assistance.

Review of circumstances when clients are deemed ineligible: Anyone found to be no longer eligible for housing assistance has the opportunity to ask the department to review their circumstances. Each case will be considered individually, according to the specific circumstances affecting that household.

For more information contact your nearest Department of Housing office.