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unmarried mothers and housing...

  • 01-06-2008 7:17pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭


    hi,

    just curious if anyone could shed light on this. I live in a area of south Dublin were housings on average are between 400k and 450k. There is girl 21 yrs of age with one kid has been given a house by i assume the council. 3 bed house. How does this happen? the kid is only a year old. Also my mother was talking to a girl she kinda knows because her mother knew my mam. And my mam says to the girl im seeing you alot lately around here and she says " oh I just got a house on x avenue". Her friend turned around and said oh ill be getting one soon my name is on the list. Now also the house this girl got is 10 doors away from a house which is currently on sale for 410k.

    i suppose my question is:
    a) why do the council think its neccessary for an unmarried mother of one child to need a 3 bed house
    b) how is it they are guaranteed these houses? i might add that this area is not a council area. Also the firsts girls family live in a house in my area which the council bought, i heard through someone that its easier as an unmarried mother to get a house in the same area as your family. is this true?

    I suppose if im honest im alittle bitter because ill be bursting myself trying to pay a mortgage of 1700k and not being able to afford any luxory items like LCD screens and that while they can. sure one them has a bloody A3 in the garden wtf!!?

    EDIT: i just want to add that im not against unmarried mothers receiving aid and housing, but i do think its being abused


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 bingo167


    Jon,

    In my own humble opinion, the social welfare system is a complete mess. There doesn't seem to be any justice when a family struggles to pay a mortgage or rent, and a single mother with no intention of working can get a rent cheque or a lovely rent free council house. The same happens here in Tipperary. Don't get me wrong, the idea behind a social welfare system is excellent, taking care of someone when in need, but we've bred generations of people who now believe it's their right for free handouts in return for nothing. The system will only change when a brave government does something about it, and that, I think, will never happen.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    i hear you, i suppose i was more outraged and disgusted with their attitude, it was like it was their entitlement and the assurance that they will get it. Especially when i read in the papers of familys of 5 being forced to live in bedsits.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,414 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    jon1981 wrote: »
    i hear you, i suppose i was more outraged and disgusted with their attitude, it was like it was their entitlement and the assurance that they will get it. Especially when i read in the papers of familys of 5 being forced to live in bedsits.

    I almost got sick one day in my local post office when i was queuing, I heard these 2 girls chatting, one had just been 'up-graded' to a 3 bed house... she was discussing what leather furniture she had picked out and what type of wooden flooring, then she was saying how she was going to get the state to pay for it!!!

    Why would someone like that ever take a job on any where near the minimum wage?? when they can get way more from the state and sit at home on their leather sofa....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    i might regret starting this thread :mad:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,986 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    jon1981 wrote: »
    b) how is it they are guaranteed these houses? i might add that this area is not a council area. Also the firsts girls family live in a house in my area which the council bought, i heard through someone that its easier as an unmarried mother to get a house in the same area as your family. is this true?

    I suppose the trend is buy up houses over many areas instead of one massive complex or estate. You might never know who owns the house next to you.
    It probably does make sense to put succussful applicants in their local area. The girl will have the support network of her family.

    I wonder will this thread go downhill


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    i agree it is good that they are around their family, but since when has it become an unofficial right? maybe the council will subsidise me to live near my family lol ...oh wait thats the affordable housing scheme that has a 5 year waiting list and only apartments in areas of dublin nobody wants to live in


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    ok i heard some crazy talk about it taking years to clear the affordable housing list. i suppose the other side of the argument is, if you were to put all these people together it would create more social problems like in ballymun for example


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,610 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    jon1981 wrote: »
    There is girl 21 yrs of age with one kid has been given a house by i assume the council.
    You mean you don't actually know, you are just guessing? For all you know she bought it herself or with family / friends or through affordable housing or whatever. How do you know who is or isn't living there? If it is a council owned house, the council retains ownership - the tenants aren't "given" houses.
    3 bed house.
    Have you checked?
    How does this happen? the kid is only a year old.
    Would you prefer the child to be homeless and the house empty?
    Also my mother was talking to a girl she kinda knows because her mother knew my mam. And my mam says to the girl im seeing you alot lately around here and she says " oh I just got a house on x avenue". Her friend turned around and said oh ill be getting one soon my name is on the list.
    Its a long list. You say nothing of the housing needs of these two.
    Now also the house this girl got is 10 doors away from a house which is currently on sale for 410k.
    For sale at €410 means it might get €350k.
    a) why do the council think its neccessary for an unmarried mother of one child to need a 3 bed house
    Seeing as you are speculating. We can't answer that.
    b) how is it they are guaranteed these houses?
    Whos says they are guaranteed?
    i might add that this area is not a council area.
    Would you prefer 1980s-style ghettoes?
    Also the firsts girls family live in a house in my area which the council bought, i heard through someone that its easier as an unmarried mother to get a house in the same area as your family. is this true?
    It has nothing to do with being unmarried. Its about need. Two people trump one. Children and elderly people trump working-age adults. People with disabilities trump normally-abled people. Homeless people trump people with a home.

    Councils are giving first perference in in-fill schemes to people from an area. Not only does this improve things for the individuals - parents and grandparents are nearby, it also creates a more stable neighbourhood without a constant turn-over of residents. It also cuts down on travel needs.
    I suppose if im honest im alittle bitter because ill be bursting myself trying to pay a mortgage of 1700k
    Avail of the Rent-a-Room scheme then. www.revenue.ie Oh do you mean €1,700 a month or €1,700,000 total?
    and not being able to afford any luxory items like LCD screens and that while they can. sure one them has a bloody A3 in the garden wtf!!?
    Much jealous, are we?
    EDIT: i just want to add that im not against unmarried mothers receiving aid and housing, but i do think its being abused
    You have provided no evidence of this.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 759 ✭✭✭gixerfixer


    jon1981 wrote: »
    hi,

    just curious if anyone could shed light on this. I live in a area of south Dublin were housings on average are between 400k and 450k. There is girl 21 yrs of age with one kid has been given a house by i assume the council. 3 bed house. How does this happen? the kid is only a year old. Also my mother was talking to a girl she kinda knows because her mother knew my mam. And my mam says to the girl im seeing you alot lately around here and she says " oh I just got a house on x avenue". Her friend turned around and said oh ill be getting one soon my name is on the list. Now also the house this girl got is 10 doors away from a house which is currently on sale for 410k.

    i suppose my question is:
    a) why do the council think its neccessary for an unmarried mother of one child to need a 3 bed house
    b) how is it they are guaranteed these houses? i might add that this area is not a council area. Also the firsts girls family live in a house in my area which the council bought, i heard through someone that its easier as an unmarried mother to get a house in the same area as your family. is this true?

    I suppose if im honest im alittle bitter because ill be bursting myself trying to pay a mortgage of 1700k and not being able to afford any luxory items like LCD screens and that while they can. sure one them has a bloody A3 in the garden wtf!!?

    EDIT: i just want to add that im not against unmarried mothers receiving aid and housing, but i do think its being abused

    Sorry.You do sound bitter and your story does'nt add up.You are only guessing that she is in a council house and i know for a fact that any single mother would NEVER get a 3 bed house with one kid.Also if the kid is only a year old it's impossible to get a house through the social housing system as it takes years after you have given birth to get a house by this method.Maybe she bought the house?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 365 ✭✭DJDC


    just curious if anyone could shed light on this. I live in a area of south Dublin were housings on average are between 400k and 450k. There is girl 21 yrs of age with one kid has been given a house by i assume the council. 3 bed house. How does this happen? the kid is only a year old. Also my mother was talking to a girl she kinda knows because her mother knew my mam. And my mam says to the girl im seeing you alot lately around here and she says " oh I just got a house on x avenue". Her friend turned around and said oh ill be getting one soon my name is on the list. Now also the house this girl got is 10 doors away from a house which is currently on sale for 410k.

    I think this is just a rumour tbh. The council/the govt aren't some limitless well of liquidity that can readily splash out vast sums of money on council housing. In fact, with the current state of the public finances and the negative growth outlook for the next 1/2 years, there will be a lot of prudence shown around new council housing. There is no way you should feel jealous of people who have to end up scrounging off the state for housing. You should feel sorry for them, as the vast majority end up in sink estates like berryfield, darndale etc. riddled with drugs and crime, with the young children destined to a life of poverty and failure.


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  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 14,556 Mod ✭✭✭✭johnnyskeleton


    DJDC wrote: »
    I think this is just a rumour tbh. The council/the govt aren't some limitless well of liquidity that can readily splash out vast sums of money on council housing. In fact, with the current state of the public finances and the negative growth outlook for the next 1/2 years, there will be a lot of prudence shown around new council housing. There is no way you should feel jealous of people who have to end up scrounging off the state for housing. You should feel sorry for them, as the vast majority end up in sink estates like berryfield, darndale etc. riddled with drugs and crime, with the young children destined to a life of poverty and failure.

    Well said.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 XxSparklexX


    Im a single mother of one child whos 8, im from Rathgar, i was tryin my best after college (mechanical engineerin, then beauty, then specialised in make up) i worked full time for a few yrs.
    I was earning 360 per wk, half of my wages wer goin on an after school care for my daughter each wk, i also have a loan out and a car (which i bought for 300, not a fancy bmw!) to maintain,.
    At the end of each week i was comin out with nothing to live on, i love my job im a make up artist now for mac, but i had to cut my hours down because i needed to move out of home and start my own life. the only way i could do this is by leavin full time work and workin one day a week, i was then able to apply for my book back, get my wages from one day, apply for rent allowance etc. im now comin out with in and around the same amount with no after school to pay. It pisses me off because i want to work like every one else, i love my job and everone i work with and i was gutted leavin full time.
    im movin in to my own apartment this wk finally, with the help of rent allowance,i think unmarried mothers get alot of bad press, yes there are many out there who couldnt be arsed workin but there is also some of us who want to work but cant aford to :(. i think a better child care system needs to be in place in this country it would have helped me out any way. we are not all spongers who couldnt be arsed workin.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,494 ✭✭✭ronbyrne2005


    Im a single mother of one child whos 8, im from Rathgar, i was tryin my best after college (mechanical engineerin, then beauty, then specialised in make up) i worked full time for a few yrs.
    I was earning 360 per wk, half of my wages wer goin on an after school care for my daughter each wk, i also have a loan out and a car (which i bought for 300, not a fancy bmw!) to maintain,.
    At the end of each week i was comin out with nothing to live on, i love my job im a make up artist now for mac, but i had to cut my hours down because i needed to move out of home and start my own life. the only way i could do this is by leavin full time work and workin one day a week, i was then able to apply for my book back, get my wages from one day, apply for rent allowance etc. im now comin out with in and around the same amount with no after school to pay. It pisses me off because i want to work like every one else, i love my job and everone i work with and i was gutted leavin full time.
    im movin in to my own apartment this wk finally, with the help of rent allowance,i think unmarried mothers get alot of bad press, yes there are many out there who couldnt be arsed workin but there is also some of us who want to work but cant aford to :(. i think a better child care system needs to be in place in this country it would have helped me out any way. we are not all spongers who couldnt be arsed workin.

    Wheres the father and why is'nt he helping pay for the childs upbringing? We need a agency here to chase errant fathers to financial and otherwise support their kids.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Wheres the father and why is'nt he helping pay for the childs upbringing? We need a agency here to chase errant fathers to financial and otherwise support their kids.
    The problem is that if the father is paying for the child, he should be entitled to access to the child (unless a court decides that wouldn't be in the best interests of the child).

    The problem here is nosy and gossipy neighbours. They see people with nice cars and plasma TVs and think, "Oh they must be scrounging them, sure they can't afford them", forgetting the fact that they know absolutely nothing about people's financial situations.

    You'll find that many people are in far more debt than their lifestyle would lead you to believe. Driving around in Audi TT's with 40 or 50 inch plasmas on the wall, which are all paid for by the bank.

    You also have no idea where people are getting their money from. I know one particular single mother who lives in her own home and works 3 days a week part time. She is getting maintainance from her ex-husband, and then her parents pay the balance of her mortgage, which means that she only has to provide for herself and her child. You could claim that she's getting a "free ride", but what other people choose to do with their money is none of your business, jealous or otherwise.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 759 ✭✭✭gixerfixer


    DJDC wrote: »
    I think this is just a rumour tbh. The council/the govt aren't some limitless well of liquidity that can readily splash out vast sums of money on council housing. In fact, with the current state of the public finances and the negative growth outlook for the next 1/2 years, there will be a lot of prudence shown around new council housing. There is no way you should feel jealous of people who have to end up scrounging off the state for housing. You should feel sorry for them, as the vast majority end up in sink estates like berryfield, darndale etc. riddled with drugs and crime, with the young children destined to a life of poverty and failure.

    oh +1.Now lets get them all on the train to ausvitz.:rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 759 ✭✭✭gixerfixer


    Im a single mother of one child whos 8, im from Rathgar, i was tryin my best after college (mechanical engineerin, then beauty, then specialised in make up) i worked full time for a few yrs.
    I was earning 360 per wk, half of my wages wer goin on an after school care for my daughter each wk, i also have a loan out and a car (which i bought for 300, not a fancy bmw!) to maintain,.
    At the end of each week i was comin out with nothing to live on, i love my job im a make up artist now for mac, but i had to cut my hours down because i needed to move out of home and start my own life. the only way i could do this is by leavin full time work and workin one day a week, i was then able to apply for my book back, get my wages from one day, apply for rent allowance etc. im now comin out with in and around the same amount with no after school to pay. It pisses me off because i want to work like every one else, i love my job and everone i work with and i was gutted leavin full time.
    im movin in to my own apartment this wk finally, with the help of rent allowance,i think unmarried mothers get alot of bad press, yes there are many out there who couldnt be arsed workin but there is also some of us who want to work but cant aford to :(. i think a better child care system needs to be in place in this country it would have helped me out any way. we are not all spongers who couldnt be arsed workin.

    Good luck with the new apartment sparkle.Dont let some of the clowns on here wind you up.I think a lot are just very jealous of single mothers who have rightly got a apartment or house because of there circumstances.Unfortunatly some people like to mark everyones card the same just because they are bitter.Best of luck:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭gurramok


    As i stated in the AH thread, i do know of a unmarried local woman with 3 kids who did get a 3bed house which was sold to the corpo by the previous occupants.

    She waited years for the house just like gixerfixer exclaimed.

    Basically, she is on her 4th pregnancy now, her partner lives with her 'illegally' and is flush with dosh(3 cars including a SUV) as well as you guess the famous plasma tv inside the living room besides other 'equipment'.

    She is on welfare getting rent paid for her and her partner does not work(they had no qualms about telling the neighbours this...he maybe on welfare, just dont know that part yet).
    I point this out as a case that may be p1sstakers and abusing the system and this may not reflect as a general issue with others on the list.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 XxSparklexX


    awww tnx, nice to hear something nice!

    in relation to the question about my childs father, i was a very silly and nieve teenager i can admit that now lol, after i got pregnant i got some sence into and dumped him (yes it took that for me to see clearly lol!). he was a nasty character.I did chase him up for maintainance tro the legal routs and he said he would pay 25 pounds a wk in support, that didnt happen, my daughter recieved nothing. Id rather go it alone than with the likes of him tho. last i heard he was livin in with a new girl and their 3 kids, i also heard rumour that the is another chld before mine. the word dead beat dad springs to mind! The thing that bugs me most is hes no Brad Pit so hats off to him, i dont know how he managed it!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32 brendan4


    Not meaning to be rude XxSparklexX, but did you consider giving the baby up for adoption? (not me saying you should have btw, just wondering, was it an option for you)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 XxSparklexX


    of course i considered it, my parents immediate reaction was send me away 4 an abortion, and odviously i didnt want it in the beginnin but then i decided i was keepin it/her, im not the 1st teenage mother and far 4om the last. it was the best decision i ever made to keep her.......shes the best worst thing thats ever happened to me!!! :D:D:D


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 365 ✭✭DJDC


    oh +1.Now lets get them all on the train to ausvitz.

    Where did you get that from? It's auschwitz by the way ;)

    They key to ensuring you dont live next to council housing is quite simple; buy somewhere where the council can't afford i.e price them out. Unfortunately this just isn't possible for the vast majority of hard working PAYE earners. What sickens most people is the fact that out health service is underfunded, many national schools are falling apart and our rail/tube network is rubbish while you have an underclass dependent on the state for everything. They become trapped in a cycle of dependency, which is very difficult to break.

    Imagine what would happen if you let free market forces take place, you buy property when you can afford to buy property. If you cant afford to buy property, youd be homeless/work harder/have less children/move abroad/live with parents. Sure you would have a short-medium term massive spike in crime rates/social unrest but in the long term the benefits to the state are huge. Only then could we finally escape the claws of the social engineering that first began in the 1940s and continues today.

    Note: The author does not hold the above view and is merely playing devil's advocate.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    Bless you, Victor :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,610 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Wheres the father and why is'nt he helping pay for the childs upbringing? We need a agency here to chase errant fathers to financial and otherwise support their kids.
    brendan4 wrote: »
    Not meaning to be rude XxSparklexX, but did you consider giving the baby up for adoption? (not me saying you should have btw, just wondering, was it an option for you)

    Do you two realise how obnoxious your posts are? I'm half in the mind to ban the two of you.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,494 ✭✭✭ronbyrne2005


    seamus wrote: »
    The problem is that if the father is paying for the child, he should be entitled to access to the child (unless a court decides that wouldn't be in the best interests of the child).

    The problem here is nosy and gossipy neighbours. They see people with nice cars and plasma TVs and think, "Oh they must be scrounging them, sure they can't afford them", forgetting the fact that they know absolutely nothing about people's financial situations.

    You'll find that many people are in far more debt than their lifestyle would lead you to believe. Driving around in Audi TT's with 40 or 50 inch plasmas on the wall, which are all paid for by the bank.

    You also have no idea where people are getting their money from. I know one particular single mother who lives in her own home and works 3 days a week part time. She is getting maintainance from her ex-husband, and then her parents pay the balance of her mortgage, which means that she only has to provide for herself and her child. You could claim that she's getting a "free ride", but what other people choose to do with their money is none of your business, jealous or otherwise.
    Actually I would never judge someones situation by whether they had a flash car and a plasma telly. The people I am talking about have told me and friends and relatives about their personal circumstances, it's well known by others in a neighbourhood that ms X at number 21 is on social welfare and getting the house cheap, people don't go to extreme lengths to hide it as they know nothing will happen. Yes some single mothers have generous and well off families and some have ex partners supporting them and some have jobs but the people who are annoyed are annoyed about the ones that milk the system and don't work and get into an intergenerational social welfare dependency culture. If you read my posts I said I support social housing for those in need but if you have single mothers claiming everything the state offers including a cheap house/apartment when she and her current partner could afford to go private then others on waiting lists for social housing are being affected. My friend is long term ill and on disability benefit, he will probably never work again despite having degree etc but as he is single and has no kids (he can't have a kid himself obviously as he is male!) he is near bottom of list for social housing and is stuck in private rented accomodation subsidised by government and has had to move several times in last few years.
    People on social housing lists suffer from those who milk the system taking houses/flats when they are much better off than they tell the social welfare they are. The dogs in the street know what the majority of non working single mothers are up to but the PC brigade won't acknowledge that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32 brendan4


    Victor wrote: »
    Do you two realise how obnoxious your posts are? I'm half in the mind to ban the two of you.
    Lol, ban me if you like bud... what ever floats your boat.

    XxSparklexX, of course I didn't mean to be insulting, and judging from the calmness of your reply you realised this. Good luck with your (and yours) lifes.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,286 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    DJDC wrote: »
    I think this is just a rumour tbh. The council/the govt aren't some limitless well of liquidity that can readily splash out vast sums of money on council housing. In fact, with the current state of the public finances and the negative growth outlook for the next 1/2 years, there will be a lot of prudence shown around new council housing. There is no way you should feel jealous of people who have to end up scrounging off the state for housing. You should feel sorry for them, as the vast majority end up in sink estates like berryfield, darndale etc. riddled with drugs and crime, with the young children destined to a life of poverty and failure.

    Part of the problem is that the councils have assumed that they do in actual fact have limitless equity with which to splash out on housing that in may respects may not be the best possible use of scare resources. For the past few years, there has been the assumption that cash is not a limited resource- an assumption that is blatantly false and is only beginning to sink home in some councils. As you are no doubt aware- Galway City Council burnt through their entire 2008 allocation before the second week in March and then assumed that central government would bale them out with an additional allocation. They were actually quite indignant when the Department of Finance lectured them and refused to cave in. The local papers had a field day- and accused some of the councillors of trying to bale out their developer friends- the annual tent at the Galway Races, no doubt doesn't help the perception that the politicians are in the developer's pockets.

    It is slowly beginning to sink in, that we are in a changed environment and the execesses of the past few years are going to have to be forgotten.

    Social Housing may appear to be an extravagance come budget time, when 23% of all mortgage holders claim to be currently under severe financial pressure.......

    Interesting times nonetheless.......


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,226 ✭✭✭angelfire9


    awww tnx, nice to hear something nice!

    in relation to the question about my childs father, i was a very silly and nieve teenager i can admit that now lol, after i got pregnant i got some sence into and dumped him (yes it took that for me to see clearly lol!). he was a nasty character.I did chase him up for maintainance tro the legal routs and he said he would pay 25 pounds a wk in support, that didnt happen, my daughter recieved nothing. Id rather go it alone than with the likes of him tho. last i heard he was livin in with a new girl and their 3 kids, i also heard rumour that the is another chld before mine. the word dead beat dad springs to mind! The thing that bugs me most is hes no Brad Pit so hats off to him, i dont know how he managed it!!!

    Just so you know sparkle, though i'm sure you have been told this before, you are entitled BY LAW to maintenance for your daughter so imho you should go to the District court and take out a maintenance summons and take him to court, the court will award you whatever maintenance it considers reasonable and he will be ordered to pay it or else! If you're lucky you might even get something back dated.
    And for the record paying maintenance does not give him an automatic right to access if that's your concern.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    jon1981 wrote: »
    There is girl 21 yrs of age with one kid has been given a house by i assume the council. 3 bed house. How does this happen? the kid is only a year old.

    You assume wrong. This could could only be one of two scenarios, because you said this is not a council estate:

    1) She is renting from a private landlord with the help of rent allowance

    2) She is renting from the council with a house that they have bought out-right, but the 21yr old can never buy. In this case, it is a RAS house, or a voluntary house.

    Now, the 2nd is less likely than the first, if it is a 3 bedroom house. The council would give a 2 bedroom property to her because she has one child.

    Even in the 1st case, a social welfare officer would not grant rent allowance to a woman that was attempting to obtain a property which exceeded her needs.

    Also my mother was talking to a girl she kinda knows because her mother knew my mam. And my mam says to the girl im seeing you alot lately around here and she says " oh I just got a house on x avenue".

    See this is the problem. Too much talking with little facts, but assumptions a-plenty. Im not having a go at you, but its obvious you are a bit sore about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Abigayle wrote: »
    You assume wrong. This could could only be one of two scenarios, because you said this is not a council estate:

    1) She is renting from a private landlord with the help of rent allowance

    2) She is renting from the council with a house that they have bought out-right, but the 21yr old can never buy. In this case, it is a RAS house, or a voluntary house.

    Now, the 2nd is less likely than the first, if it is a 3 bedroom house. The council would give a 2 bedroom property to her because she has one child.

    Even in the 1st case, a social welfare officer would not grant rent allowance to a woman that was attempting to obtain a property which exceeded her needs.




    See this is the problem. Too much talking with little facts, but assumptions a-plenty. Im not having a go at you, but its obvious you are a bit sore about it.

    how does this all work if you arent working? these girls arent working, so ok they get rent allowance, but how are they meant to make up the rest of the rent? And yes i am slightly sore about it, and it is fact that they are living in a 3 bed house. Its possible its option 2, as i do know that some people in the area have sold their houses to the council


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,610 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    jon1981 wrote: »
    how does this all work if you arent working? these girls arent working, so ok they get rent allowance, but how are they meant to make up the rest of the rent? And yes i am slightly sore about it, and it is fact that they are living in a 3 bed house. Its possible its option 2, as i do know that some people in the area have sold their houses to the council
    Rent allowance will pay 90-95% of the rent, you make up the rest from your own income or savings.

    One adult and one child will have a limit, more than a single adult, but less than a larger family. If the property is too expensive, you won't get rent allowance.

    How do you know she isn't caring for her bed-ridden granny as well?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,544 ✭✭✭redspider


    > we've bred generations of people who now believe it's their right for free handouts in return for nothing.

    There is some truth in this. As social payment levels and benefits have gone up, studies have been done (across several countries) that prove that there is more 'take-up' of these payments and benefits, such as housing, etc. ie: It feeds on itself. For socialists and governments, its a problem to solve, and in recent decades the problem has not been solved.

    It is clear that many young women in disadvantaged areas go down this avenue (having a kid in their teens or early 20's and getting state support to live) as a 'career choice', and it is cyclical as one daughter follows her mother and does the same thing. Rules have also been added in recent decades that allow de facto 'husbands' classified as boyfriends to live with the women and not be income assessed. The women are also allowed to work legally to some extent and not have that effect their benefits and also many choose the black market as an additional source of income. There is zero incentive for them to enter the workforce.

    One argument proferred is that young women dont choose this route on purpose, and that for many it is a struggle of a choice, a young mother on her own having to manage a young child. Its true that many will question at times what have they done, but in terms of costs to the state, it is an expensive path, and one that 'traps' the mother into a certain lifestyle.

    Some countries adopt more 'tough love' supports, where there is less state support but where father payments are high and mandatory. The latter can be unfair in a large no of cases as many now fathers did not plan to have the child and some may have only met the young woman once!
    Im a single mother of one child whos 8, im from Rathgar, i was tryin my best after college (mechanical engineerin, then beauty, then specialised in make up) i worked full time for a few yrs.
    I was earning 360 per wk, half of my wages wer goin on an after school care for my daughter each wk, i also have a loan out and a car (which i bought for 300, not a fancy bmw!) to maintain,.
    At the end of each week i was comin out with nothing to live on, i love my job im a make up artist now for mac, but i had to cut my hours down because i needed to move out of home and start my own life. the only way i could do this is by leavin full time work and workin one day a week, i was then able to apply for my book back, get my wages from one day, apply for rent allowance etc. im now comin out with in and around the same amount with no after school to pay. It pisses me off because i want to work like every one else, i love my job and everone i work with and i was gutted leavin full time.
    im movin in to my own apartment this wk finally, with the help of rent allowance,i think unmarried mothers get alot of bad press, yes there are many out there who couldnt be arsed workin but there is also some of us who want to work but cant aford to :(. i think a better child care system needs to be in place in this country it would have helped me out any way. we are not all spongers who couldnt be arsed workin.

    You are very brave for coming on here. Your aim to participate in the workforce is to be lauded. However, you are in the minority, I would estimate that only 5% of the young women in your position act (or feel) like you do. Most take the state for what they can get, and as the OP said, most feel that it is their right.

    Redspider


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Victor wrote: »
    Rent allowance will pay 90-95% of the rent, you make up the rest from your own income or savings.

    One adult and one child will have a limit, more than a single adult, but less than a larger family. If the property is too expensive, you won't get rent allowance.

    How do you know she isn't caring for her bed-ridden granny as well?
    As i said before I know one of the girls quite well. I know some of her family also, she has got a disabled brother but he lives with the parents who live close to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,610 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    http://www.welfare.ie/topics/legis/si44_07.pdf

    The most a mother and child will get is €1,000 a month (assuming its in Dublin). Will that cove rthe rent of a 3-bed in your area?

    To be honest I think you're just an uninformed snob and a begrudger.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭jon1981


    Victor wrote: »
    http://www.welfare.ie/topics/legis/si44_07.pdf

    The most a mother and child will get is €1,000 a month (assuming its in Dublin). Will that cove rthe rent of a 3-bed in your area?

    To be honest I think you're just an uninformed snob and a begrudger.

    no im not uninformed, no it wouldnt cover the cost of the rent and im far from a snob. I just don't appreciate the smug attitude she has about it all. Ok maybe this one girl has made me sour, but its purely from her attitude, i would hate to think all girls in her situation are the same. Sounds like you just have an issue accepting that some people are abusing the system.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    jon1981 wrote: »
    Sounds like you just have an issue accepting that some people are abusing the system.

    So, become a benefits inspector or council inspector.

    The truth of the matter is, you dont know all the facts. As Victor said, and put it well - rent allowance looks after most of the rent payment. You wouldnt be granted an allowance if the rest of the rent is too much for you. If she was on a rent allowance she'd pay circa €80- €100 I believe.

    You get no help if you are renting a council home. If she is on a single mothers payment, and it is in fact a council house, this girl is paying no more than about €25 or €30 pw out of her €200ish pw OPF payment.

    The car I cannot explain, but if she is on the fiddle it wont go un-noticed.


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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,286 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    Back on topic now everyone- usual forum rules apply- if you disagree with what someone has posted, you refute the post, but do not attack the poster. Any further breaches of this will result in bannings.......


  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 14,556 Mod ✭✭✭✭johnnyskeleton


    Victor wrote: »
    http://www.welfare.ie/topics/legis/si44_07.pdf

    The most a mother and child will get is €1,000 a month (assuming its in Dublin). Will that cove rthe rent of a 3-bed in your area?

    To be honest I think you're just an uninformed snob and a begrudger.
    smccarrick wrote: »
    Back on topic now everyone- usual forum rules apply- if you disagree with what someone has posted, you refute the post, but do not attack the poster. Any further breaches of this will result in bannings.......

    Sorry to go OT, but are you threatening to ban Victor?

    This I gotta see.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32 brendan4


    lol... we can but hope.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 MK01


    Alot more people are abusing the system than you would realise, I dont know that girls situation but I am from what would be known as a respectable area of Dublin and I know alot of people who are claiming unmarried mothers allowance.
    Most of them are actually living with the babys fathers and having their rent paid as they claim they got pregnant on a one night stand and dont know the father. Alot of them are also working taxfree ie childminding and claiming the allowance aswell as their rent being paid and at the end of the month come out alot better off than most of us working!!
    They also have no incentive to go back to work because they know eventually they will be given a council house and when they do go back to work they dont receive any help with childcare so they would end up alot worse off than they are now.
    Dont get me wrong, I think the social welfare should be there to help single mothers but I think alot more checks should be done to ensure the women claiming are actually single mothers! The social would spend alot less money employing inspectors to visit people more often than they are now paying out benefits for all these people who are not entitled.
    I also think there should be more help there for struggling families, alot of couples find it hard to support a child financially, not just single mothers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭gurramok


    Victor wrote: »
    http://www.welfare.ie/topics/legis/si44_07.pdf

    The most a mother and child will get is €1,000 a month (assuming its in Dublin).

    How do they arrive at these figures? From the CSO rent stats?

    Do they take account of rental reductions in the market?

    Couple with no children get 200 while a couple with one child OR a single mother with one child gets 1000 a month.

    That sounds like encouraging the birth rate there.

    Why does Dublin/Kildare/Wicklow have huge difference in amounts like above(800+) but everywhere else is only about 20 quid?!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 666 ✭✭✭pigeonbutler


    Surely bringing in State-provided childcare for working mothers in tandem with a major reduction in the benefits available could end a lot of the dependency culture.

    I have great sympathy at the moment for hard-working women for whom working isn't an option due to childcare costs but I can't help getting frustrated at those for whom having a child is a career move!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭taram


    gurramok wrote: »
    How do they arrive at these figures? From the CSO rent stats?

    Do they take account of rental reductions in the market?

    Couple with no children get 200 while a couple with one child OR a single mother with one child gets 1000 a month.

    That sounds like encouraging the birth rate there.

    Why does Dublin/Kildare/Wicklow have huge difference in amounts like above(800+) but everywhere else is only about 20 quid?!

    +1 I was shocked by the giant leap also, and how Dublin single mothers are getting paid over 5 times the amount of the rest of the country. I realise Dublin rents are a lot higher, but the entire county being 5 times that of say, Cork City? I really doubt it. A quick look at daft.ie matches this hypothesis.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,494 ✭✭✭ronbyrne2005


    The 1000-1200 euro figures are monthly while the ones 130euro per person are weekly amounts. The 200'ish euro figure in Dublin for a couple is weekly too.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭gurramok


    Ah, so they are :)

    How do they determine these figures though?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,138 ✭✭✭foxy06


    Have to say Sparkle has made the most valid point on this thread. People that claim rent allowance are not encouraged to work. It will cost them money rather than make them any and I think that the problem would be solved by having subsidised government creches. That way if a single mother wants to go out and work she can, her child will be looked after and could possibly get herself out of the poverty trap and be able to pay her own rent. If they don't want to go out and work then they should get less help.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,610 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    MK01 wrote: »
    Its a pity you didnt think ahead when this baby was being conceived isnt it?
    You sound as if you care alot more about your studies than this child, you also seem more concerned about whether this will cost you anything and how quickly you can get rid of it than the welfare of the child. Im sorry this baby is such an inconvenience to you.
    I know plenty of people who have become pregnant at a young age and have managed because they wouldnt part with their own flesh and blood for anything. I dont know your individual circumstances but I think if you really wanted this child you would work something out.
    I hope your girlfriend is going to be able to cope both emotionally and physically with giving up her child aswell as being back in college in September.
    MK01 wrote: »
    Alot more people are abusing the system than you would realise, I dont know that girls situation but I am from what would be known as a respectable area of Dublin and I know alot of people who are claiming unmarried mothers allowance.
    Most of them are actually living with the babys fathers and having their rent paid as they claim they got pregnant on a one night stand and dont know the father. Alot of them are also working taxfree ie childminding and claiming the allowance aswell as their rent being paid and at the end of the month come out alot better off than most of us working!!
    They also have no incentive to go back to work because they know eventually they will be given a council house and when they do go back to work they dont receive any help with childcare so they would end up alot worse off than they are now.
    Dont get me wrong, I think the social welfare should be there to help single mothers but I think alot more checks should be done to ensure the women claiming are actually single mothers! The social would spend alot less money employing inspectors to visit people more often than they are now paying out benefits for all these people who are not entitled.
    I also think there should be more help there for struggling families, alot of couples find it hard to support a child financially, not just single mothers.
    My, swinging from abusing people for adopting to abusing people for keeping a child.
    MK01 wrote: »
    Alot more people are abusing the system than you would realise, I dont know that girls situation but I am from what would be known as a respectable area of Dublin and I know alot of people who are claiming unmarried mothers allowance.
    No such thing as "unmarried mothers allowance".
    Most of them are actually living with the babys fathers
    Wow, families sticking together. Good. Yeah?
    and having their rent paid as they claim they got pregnant on a one night stand and dont know the father.
    You know this how? The MK01 and Single Mothers Gossip Group?
    Alot of them are also working taxfree ie childminding
    Perfectly legal.
    and claiming the allowance aswell
    Which allowance?
    as their rent being paid and at the end of the month come out alot better off than most of us working!!
    Begrudery?
    They also have no incentive to go back to work
    But you said alot of them worked as child minders. Are you saying you lied earlier?
    because they know eventually they will be given a council house
    Oh really. /runs off to find a suitable lolcat.
    and when they do go back to work they dont receive any help with childcare so
    They do get teh quarterly child care payment, but yes, I think there should be more supported childcare palces available.
    they would end up alot worse off than they are now.
    So babies should be housed how?
    Dont get me wrong, I think the social welfare should be there to help single mothers but I think alot more checks should be done to ensure the women claiming are actually single mothers!
    You think they may be baby snatchers? :confused:
    The social would spend alot less money employing inspectors to visit people more often than they are now paying out benefits for all these people who are not entitled.
    http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=-1&CatID=138&m=m
    I also think there should be more help there for struggling families, alot of couples find it hard to support a child financially, not just single mothers.
    Sure, but to give to one, you don't have to take from others.
    gurramok wrote: »
    How do they arrive at these figures? From the CSO rent stats?
    I don't know, perhaps the Department of Social and Family Affairs figures for what is typically paid for each type of accommodation in each area?
    Do they take account of rental reductions in the market?
    Yes, but that can only really brought into play from moving accommodation.
    Couple with no children get 200 while a couple with one child OR a single mother with one child gets 1000 a month.
    Go back and read the document: http://www.welfare.ie/topics/legis/si44_07.pdf
    (I) (A) the monthly amount set out in columns (6), (7) and (8) opposite that reference in respect of each of the counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, or
    (B) the weekly amount in all other cases,
    set out in Schedule C to these Regulations in respect of such class or classes of persons referred to in row (1) of the said Schedule, and
    That sounds like encouraging the birth rate there.
    Governments do that.
    Why does Dublin/Kildare/Wicklow have huge difference in amounts like above(800+) but everywhere else is only about 20 quid?!
    Whers the 800 figure? The lowest amount listed is €303 per month per property (or €147 per month person for a 5 family household).
    taram wrote: »
    +1 I was shocked by the giant leap also, and how Dublin single mothers are getting paid over 5 times the amount of the rest of the country. I realise Dublin rents are a lot higher, but the entire county being 5 times that of say, Cork City? I really doubt it. A quick look at daft.ie matches this hypothesis.

    gurramok wrote: »
    Ah, so they are :)
    Thank you.
    How do they determine these figures though?
    Ministerial perogative based on recommendations from the departmental advisers, who in turn probably get someone to analyse what people are paying and they decide a cut off point.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,610 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Whos up for a ban for bigotry?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 360 ✭✭ellie1


    The only reason that poeple get rent alowance is because various councils do not supply enough housing for families, single parents, individuals on low incomes. I know various different women who are single parents. There is some small truth in the fact that there is women who set out to get pregnant in order to gain a house, a benifits etc. Often this is what happens among the girls peers or family. I definantly know one such case yet that particular girl has a lot of emotional issues and i think felt a baby would full fill her.I do think these girls are in the minority.i know girls who claim their one parent family payment and live with there partners. I also know women who are single mothers because they have just fallen for the wrong guy who promised them the world and left when responsibilites of young children became too much and these are the women who seem to struggle the most. It is extreamly difficult to raise a child on your own but it is possible though stressful to go to college, get a good education and get yourself out of a situation where you are dependant on the state. There should be more childcare, more education in school when girls are younger and more support services there for single parents. Maybe before people criticise, it could be your sister who is left on her own with a child to raise and struggling...would ya all condemn her then..??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭gurramok


    Without coming across as a type of male 'feminist' :D

    Maybe off topic or related to the topic through 'unmarried mothers' but..

    It's quite diffcicult for a woman to raise a child in this country with how the system encourages women to be in the workforce to earn a decent crust but yet when they have a child, they are totally dependent on the partner for income once the maternity leave is up.
    It's either that or go out back to work less than a year after birth and throw your loving child into that expensive creche for the first few years.

    It's surprising the birth rate has held up so far!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,164 ✭✭✭seahorse


    ...with their penises.

    You know what? I was just sitting here reading this latest single mother bashing thread and I thought: I am living for the day someone starts a thread about social housing and how much of it is necessary as a result of men throwing their pricks into any female who'll have them and then fecking off wherever the mood takes them. I am pig-sick of listening to people bitching and moaning about single mothers without a thought to the fact that for every single mother there is a man who couldn’t be bothered to raise his own child - it's not rocket science people, it's really very simple - that is how she ended up a single mother in the first place!!!

    For all the begrudgers who are so thoroughly disgusted at single mothers receiving state funded rent and housing, you should give a thought to the men who put them in that situation. Why is the focus always on the female? Oh yes, it's just hit me - it must be because they're visible; they can be seen pushing their prams, raising their kids, and taking care of their responsibilities - unlike the fathers in the situation who are not visible, because, that's right - THEY FCUKED OFF!!!

    For people who have an issue with women living with the child’s father and drawing state benefits, here's something you really need to get through your heads: Your issue is with welfare fraudsters - NOT single mothers, so please stop using the two terms as though they were transposable.


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