a few questions from a clueless mum!

flossee

Hi i am a single mum of a 6 month old baby, i just have a few questions as i am completely clueless about entitlements etc! i have been on jobseekers allowance for a few months (genuinely seeking work!) with no luck! planning to return to college this september, but have been advised by someone it would be better for me to apply for one parent family allowance, i am just wondering is it possible to just switch?

also, it took 7 months for my jobseekers to come through and am due backpay, would this be cancelled if i switched?? i recently added on my daughter as a child dependant (as i didnt know i was supposed to do that!!!) does this get backdated or just start from when you add the child on?

have applied to get on the housing list today, as my daughter and i are currently living with a friend of mine and her husband and son and it is just not suitable. how does it usually take to get on the housing list (kildare) as i need to apply for rent allowance and i think you need to actually be on the list before this is possible.

hope someone can shed some light on any of this for me, really am stuck at the minute!

Shifty

Some information on one parent family allowance and rent Supplement here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/social-welfare-payments-to-families-and-children/one_parent_family_payment

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/supplementary-welfare-schemes/rent_supplement