A new Rural Dwellers Pilot has been introduced.
Under this pilot, 250 places for Rural Dwellers are being made available to Implementing Bodies like West Cork Development Partnership who deliver the RSS nationally.
An RSS placement can be offered to a person who has been identified as a rural dweller and who meets the required eligibility.
Who is a Rural Dweller?
For the purposes of this pilot, a rural dweller is
· a person who is 50 years or over,
· in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to access the RSS and
· whose primary residence is in a rural area. Eligible customers may have immediate access to RSS subject to the availability of a suitable placement.
As set out by the DRCDG Leader Programme, the rural area is defined as all parts of Ireland with the exception of the areas within the boundaries of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway.
The Department of Social Protection has advised that they will keep all placements allocated on this pilot under continuous review.
Important to note: Just because someone isn’t in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment at the moment doesn’t mean that they aren’t eligible for one, all they need to receive in terms of a payment is €1 that payment will mean they would qualify for either the RSS or the Rural Dwellers Scheme. For example…..If they were getting €1 on a qualifying Social Welfare payment their weekly rate on RSS or Rural Dwellers would be topped up to the minimum which is €286.50, so it would be worth €285.50 to them.
Its definitely worth applying for a payment, it will either be a yes or a no!
If anyone needs any help or advice in doing so they are more than welcome to contact : Arran O Driscoll at 023 88 34035 or 086 8412539.
Any queries will be dealt with in confidence and discreetly and there is no pressure to get involved.