Social welfare benefits to foreign national parents of irish children?

crystallucas11

Hi all,

I am writing this to partially vent and also ask if anyone else is in a similar "pickle" so to speak. I've been in Ireland for six months this time, I was here in 2007 till 2008, in total out of the last 5 years I've been here for 2 1/2 years and Canada (my home country) for 2 1/2 years. I moved back here with my son who's father is Irish. He has been supporting us but we are not together. I moved here in the hopes that we would have him in my sons life as a more active parent. When we were in Canada, he was a "skype dad". I was hoping that my son would be able to have both parents in the same country while I had some more parenting support. Since I've been here, I have applied for one parent family payments and HSE and Rent allowance payments, first of all because I broke my back 3 days before coming here and second of all because since it's healed, I can't find work. Childcare is very expensive and if I work full time and pay for childcare, I only make 5 euros an hour which is not enough to survive. I am living off of the generosity of his father, he gives us very very little to live off of per week and its such a struggle. I must note that he had to take out a loan to support us while we are here as well. I applied to the HSE to get some supplementary welfare payments and was denied twice. I am awaiting the one parent family benefits but after a meeting with them today I have a feeling that they don't want to give us any help either. The woman told me to go back to Canada. The problem is,my 4 year old son will be heartbroken. and secondly how will I get a plane ticket with 100 euros a week? I've sacrificed so much for my son to have a father in his life that what will we be going back to? I personally think Irleand is a complete and utter s@ithole of a country and wish we had never come here in the first place but I really wanted the best for my son. I was really hoping that the HSE or social welfare people would see that my son is 50 percent irish and that we do not want to break up his family. They don't seem to care and it seems pretty bad if they are just looking for any reason they can to deny the claims that come through their door. Now we're stuck living off of a small amount per week and with no jobs in sight and no plane tickets home, I'm just sitting here feeling pretty stupid right about now for even coming here. I'm sure other people must be experiencing something like me, I can't be the only one.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

cee_jay

1. What type of visa are you on? This is one reason why your claim could be disallowed.
2. You need to satisfy the habitual residence condition in order to claim social welfare here - your son being half Irish does not come into this - more information on this can be found here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_assistance_payments/residency_requirements_for_social_assistance_in_ireland.html

metrovelvet

Hi,

Honestly, you should go back to Canada.

The only other way around this is if you get married and you each get spousal entitlements to each other's countries so you can stay here or he can go to Canada with you.

Ireland isn't going to give you any money. Even though your son is half Irish, doesnt matter, you have to prove habitual residency as well as EU citizenship. Look at all the immigrants in the US with anchor babies. None of them [except Puerto Ricans] get assistance.

I don't know what you are entitled to in Canada but there are more jobs for you there.

I came back here for similar reasons to you but it didnt work out at all and I'm kind of stuck here for the time being but will go back to the US in due course.

mikemac

As the others posted, the key thing here is proving habitual residence.

Doesn't matter about your sons nationality.
There are people who are 100% Irish who cannot meet habitual residence and so have huge issues with accessing welfare

So be sure to check that link given above

Doug89

Em, what kind of job can you work for €5 an hour....

crystallucas11

crystallucas11 wrote: »

if I work full time and pay for childcare, I only make 5 euros an hour which is not enough to survive.

€200 a week for you and your son to survive after paying childcare is possible, won't the father still contribute a few quid too? How much are you getting by on now?

padz

" I broke my back 3 days before coming here' how is it possible that u could travel?

it sounds like your ranting about your situation and not any point about social welfare...

i had a long distance romance myself it sucks for everyone, but i understand if u have children its prob more difficult, maybe ur doing what u think is right for ur child by being here and thats not whats right for you, put urself first! if i had a partner who was unhappy here even if we had a kid id tell her to go home till things got better here economy wise, hope u get to meet new friends here near where u live or maybe look online for a meet up wit fellow Canadians ur prob homesick and feeling isolated
this link mite help http://www.irishcanadiansociety.net/

ps its prob not the best attitude to have sayin u believe Ireland is a sh1thole but yet u want advice about how to get maximum benefits, im sure u would understand how people wouldn't be much help if ur speaking like that

crystallucas11

thanks for the response. now to answer some of the questions which were posted, I have a stamp 4 visa which entitles me to work and live here and attend school here.
I broke my back, but it was a compression fracture so I could walk but it was painful for a while and limited my mobility.
When I said I would be making 5 euros an hour that was taken into consideration the cost of childcare minus the hourly wage.
And Habitual Residency is not always determined by the amount of time but to the individual family circumstances and because I lived here in 2007-2008 and was habitually resident then, I wonder if that has any pull in our current situation?
And I can see how it would be offensive for me to call Ireland a s$ithole of a country so to whomever I offend with this post, I appologize.

metrovelvet

Your kid starts school next year. Its not like in North America where public schools are totally free. In Ireland you have to pay for books, uniforms, voluntary contributions, etc.

Where are you living now? Are you living with the child's dad?

poconnor16

Just wondering, how does a person get a visa if they cannot support themselves & dependents? I know this is not helpful, but did you not double check all these details before you came?

I agree with the others - at the expense of your kid not seeing his father, Canada is a much better place to be in this environment. would you consider doing this for a few years until you are in a better position to make the move over?

cee_jay

crystallucas11 wrote: »

thanks for the response. now to answer some of the questions which were posted, I have a stamp 4 visa which entitles me to work and live here and attend school here.
I broke my back, but it was a compression fracture so I could walk but it was painful for a while and limited my mobility.
When I said I would be making 5 euros an hour that was taken into consideration the cost of childcare minus the hourly wage.
And Habitual Residency is not always determined by the amount of time but to the individual family circumstances and because I lived here in 2007-2008 and was habitually resident then, I wonder if that has any pull in our current situation?
And I can see how it would be offensive for me to call Ireland a s$ithole of a country so to whomever I offend with this post, I appologize.

You haven't proven habitual residence in this country. If you look at my previous link, you need to show strong ties to Ireland in that your centre of interest is here. The fact is you have lived most of your life in Canada, only having lived in Ireland for a max of 2 years. You returned to Canada in 2008, breaking your link to Ireland, and hence your habitual residence. One of the main factors in determining habitual residence is length and continuity of residence in Ireland which you probably don't meet in the eyes of Social Welfare. They will take into account the reason you were here before, and the reason you went back to Canada as well here.
Another condition of habitual residence is nature and purpose of residence - if you haven't come here with a job offer, or to work, then again you won't meet this condition.
Centre of Interest is the next aspect they look at - your centre of interest is the country you have spent most of your life, where your immediate family live, etc. Due to the short length of time you have been in Ireland, it is unlikely they would view Ireland as being your centre of interest.
They will look at your employment history in Ireland, little or no employment will be another disallowance. They will also look at your future intentions to remain here, if you are likely to stay or go back home, you will have answered this on the HRC form you would have been given when applying.

mrsbyrne

found this excellent post from a week or so ago regarding HRC. and this poster is Irish born and bred. note point no. 9.
Applied for JSA July 2010. It was means tested. Had returned from a lengthy spell abroad, had to prove HRC. Got my payment thru after much difficulty on Dec. 22.....so 6 month wait.
I thought the following would benefit similar returned emigrants......

"To assist me if you are a Habitual Resident in the State, I would appreciate if you would forward evidence of the following:

1. Proof of travel to Ireland - flight confirmation details
2. Proof of in employment in USA
3. Proof of USA Social Security Number
4. Proof of termination of employment in USA
5. Proof of Residency in USA
6. Proof of termination of residency in USA
7. Proof of repatriation of personal possessions to Ireland
8. Proof of closure of USA bank accounts & statements
9. Proof of looking for work in Ireland since arrival in State
10 Proof of address - tenancy agreement & ESB bill in your name dated in the last 3 months."

After I provided ALL of the above info, I got a further request for even more proof. It seemed to me that they were hoping you'd just give up. Hope the above helps out some boardies....I know @ the time I could find out very little as to what info they would be looking for when I initially applied. The CWO were unwilling to give me any money in the short term as they also wanted to prove HRC. They told me there would be a lengthy delay in processing it. Only for family, I'd have been fooked.

ted1

how can you expect to come to a new country call it a ****hole and expect to live of the state. You need to cop on. With the comments you make i hope you don't get a cent

Sugarfree

This is terrible. The OP came to Ireland planning to be a burden on the state. I hope the new Government boots out these welfare tourists.

Moon Indigo

Rubbish situation but thats the way. I'm Irish and it just seems to be a lopsided system in that some people make a career choice to live off the dole and whatever they can get and some genuinly try.
I know your situation is better but if thats how you find yourself then all you can do is work with what you have. There is usually a way. My advice would be your local Community Welfare Officer. I'm not sure if they deal with Visa etc but you are part of a community in your area and sometime pride has to be swallowed.
I would also advice to take a deep breath and see what education you can get use the skills you have in life to your advantage. Go to the local adult education office they usually give you a little towards childcare in some course while you study. Its worth a bash. And final word get the father to get up off his backside and support. Hope all works out sometimes when if feels everything is going against you, you need to just step back and take fresh perspective.

cee_jay

2 infractions handed out already on this thread. Read the forum charter before posting on this thread, next unhelpful reply will be banned for 2 weeks.

Mom2Be

Im 100% Irish, My partner is 100% Irish, my daughter is 100% Irish and the baby im due to have next week is 100% Irish.

I have had to work for minimum wage for the last 9 months just to build up enough prsi contributions to be entitled to Maternity Benefit which im getting now. Some weeks only working 6 or 8 hours.

My partner is after being cut on his Job Seekers Allowance to €202.90 per week. (out of work a year for the 1st time in 12 years)

We have a mortgage to meet each month, along with an electricity bill, a phone bill and a credit union loan which is as good as leaving us broke.

This is just life and there is no point in moaning about it as it wont get any of us anywhere.

I know you want your son to have a relationship with his father but i also know friends of mine that have kids and their dads have gone to Canada, Australia, Poland etc just to save some money so when they come back they can provide better for their children. They were heartbroken going but it is just reality.

You may think you are being hard done by but so do alot of Irish people.

For your sons sake i would think about going home to give him a better up bringing Even if its only for a few years until things pick up in this country

Hope it all works out..

LegacyUser

I am not Irish, have a child with an Irishman, have been living in Ireland for 6years, went on 3 weeks holidays to my homeland, because of strong anemia came back after 3 months..., MY child benefit payment had been stopped and 14 months later still nothing. What funny, we Dad,child and me)have been living together. Do not loose hope, it is interesting I have been thinking that Canada is a wonderful country. Would the child's father help you to go back to Canada, moved there with you? please be positive

scotgirl

Whoever decides to just move to Ireland, needs their head examined. Where does it say that Ireland was the land of milk and honey? I can't understand it. Maybe, if you were travelling from some war torn country with no social welfare system, I can see the attraction to those types, but believe me, my experience of moving to Ireland from UK was difficult enough. I moved here for nothing less than love, I researched as much as I could before coming over but nothing prepares you for how different and difficult it is relocating. The system here is a bit more generous in amounts of benefits but most of them are related to your work and prsi. I surrendered all of my disability entitlements from the UK and only got disablity allowance here until I moved in with my partner when he was then expected to support me. I cant work so I dont get anything here except Childrens allowance for the 3 kids we have now. Its only now that my partners wages have been slashed, I might be entitled to a small amount of disablility allowance.
Ive been here for 8 years now and happy and settled but the first thing I remember being told when I first arrived, by a community welfare officer ''Why on earth did you do that??''
She was dead right because it was a long road getting re established finacially, medically (NO NHS HERE!!) and emotionally. Unless you are running from hell, stay in your own country! Ireland has wonderful people and beautiful places but when the Irish themselves are emigrating, it kind of tells you something! Respect. x

scotgirl

Sorry for using caps, I forgot, hope it doesnt mean a ban! lol

Moon Indigo

Totally agree scotsgirl. Unless its a really awful situation your are running from don't do it. I think it was maybe just a preception that went around during the boom. Its true to say that alot of money was made but think about it many of the builders were east european etc yet how many do you see reaping the benefits?
Ireland in my opinion is much of the time the land of backhanders and those in the know.

Mom2Be

Couldnt agree more..

I was in with CWO this morning. About 30 people waiting ~ Possibly 6 or 7 of them Irish.. Alot of people came here thinking there was so much work and if no work then the benefits are great...

Not anymore, Worked all my life and get treated like dirt when there is no work and i need help (for the first time) Joke...

I could be in there asking for buggies, cots, maternity clothes etc but im not. Im just happy to get by..