Bit of a pickle...

Flippitt!!

Am just hoping for bit of advice on this one...
My sis (30) super mom to 5 busy kids, until recently keeping down full time job, leaving @6.30 home @2.30. Hubby self emp got kids ready and dropped off to school and off to work with him.
Sis collect from creche, school... bite to eat, homework, dinner.. training/cubs/ swimming/ football....add in different stresses and pressures etc etc so this all recently ended in my sis having a kind of nervous breakdown so now we have a situ like this

~hubby working very little, earning very little as trying to be there for kids&wife
~kids need new shoes... like trying to get shoes for caterpillar
~sis needs to return to work as financially things getting suuuper tight at home, like oven broken, dryer on the blink, no oil...
~can't get back to school allowance as he is self empl
~med card only for 1 child due to heart condition
~tax for car due
etc etc etc the list goes on and on..

What i was wondering and hoping for an answer if anyone gets to the end of this message (sorry got bit carried away) what ,if any social welfare allowances they might be entitled to?? and how would they apply?
Should hubby give up the ghost of self employment which would prob kill him?? or will they get nothing due to self employment, like they have always worked really hard and everything, or what would be they'r best option/route to go i wonder....thanks in advance....

mrsbyrne

If your sis had been working full time for a number of years right up till she fell ill, did she not apply for Illness Benefit?

Flippitt!!

It's only a new thing for us so as far as i know somthing like that has been applied for alright..i suppose the best thing is to maybe gather as much info from hubby first and head for social welfare office..... he's hopeless at this kind of thing, i'm not much better i'm afraid.

Jellybaby1

I understand to a certain extent what your sister is going through and we too like to many who have just recently come into the lower income group are like fools in fogs when it comes to SW assistance and the officials just don't tell you anything unless you ask but you don't know what or who to ask. I'm not an expert so can't advise but what about going into Soc. Welfare and explaining, or contacting http://www.mabs.ie/ for advice.

But I'm sure someone else here would be better in a position to advise.

Best of luck!

Flippitt!!

Perfect description "fools in fog".. I'm off myself tues so will head for social welfare office and i'll try mabs too see if they can shed light, and i know everyone's situ is different... appreciate the replies..will let ye know how i go..

Balagan

It would be well worth your time to visit the Citizens Information office before going to the SW office. CI will be able to guide you in the direction of what is available to your sister whereas the SW is not really set up for that. Also, while it is understandable that your sister may not be in a position to come with you this time, it really would be good if her husband came with you to both offices. Good luck!

yabadabado

If she is not able to work due to illness she should apply for illness benefit.She will get all the forms needed to apply from her GP,which I presume she has already attended if she is off work sick.When she posts off the application go to the CWO for supplementary welfare allowance while she is waiting for a decision.

wmpdd3

If she does return to work, the family may be able to apply for FIS is their weekly income is less than €950 per week.

If they get approved they could get 60% of the difference between 950 and what they actually take home per week.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/family_income_supplement.html#l62fd2

maryk123

what about FIS (family income supplement) she should apply for that.