Single Parent - Going from F/T to P/T?

Fittle

I am a single parent with one child. I currently work full time in a pretty low paid job and struggle to pay childcare costs (i've a mortgage too) - my child is 9 so this struggle will continue for another few years at least.

We were told yesterday that we would all be facing salary cuts from 1st January - this is not including what the budget holds in store.

I am barely surviving on my current salary and there's no way I will manage on a reduced salary.

I have the opportunity to a take on a part time position, on a much lower salary (of course) but one that would work around my childs school, so I would be cutting out childcare costs.

I'm trying to figure out what my entitlements might be with regards to FIS etc as a single parent, if I went p/t?
Unfortunately, even with the cuts in the current job, I'm just barely over the threshold for eligibility for any support from SW.
Any advice appreciated, thanks

yabadabado

You can apply for FIS if you work more than 19hrs per week.Have you applied for Lone parents payment?
Loads of info on citizens information website.

Fittle

No, I've done nothing yet as I'm still in f/t employment. I'll check out the CIS website, thanks.

Lugh Ildanach

For a one child family, if your income is below 506/week (after tax), and if you are working at least 19 hours a week, you will be eligible for Family Income Supplement. The amount that you get will be 60% of the difference between your income and the 506 limit. You should apply for this BEFORE you apply for any One Parent Family Payment you may be entitled to, as it will be assessed on your income, and will not change if you subsequently get more income from employment or establish a social welfare entitlement. You will get the FIS at this rate for one year, unless you either have another child or your job reduces to below 19 hours.

AFTER you have submitted your FIS application, you can apply for OPFP. To be eligible you will need to be earning less than 425 EUro gross (they do not take any FIS payment into consideration), and have at least one child aged under 14. If you are earning less than 146.50 and receiving no maintenance from the child's father you will get the full payment of 188 for yourself and 29.80 for your child.

If you apply for both payments at the same time, then your Family Income Supplement will be reduced according to whatever your OPFP entitlement is, so timing is crucial.

In relation to salary cuts from your job, you are not obliged to accept any salary cuts on offer, although if you do not accept them you could face redundancy (or depending on your contract, being put on fewer hours, but at least your hourly rate would be maintained). Also consider that if your hours were reduced, rather than your rate of pay, you may also save some costs in childcare!

If you are not a member of a Trade Union, you could join one now to be in a better position to negotiate what is coming.

Fittle

Unfortunately, we have to accept the pay cuts - they are coming whether we like it or not! If we are made redundant, there is no money for redundancy payments (I'm here 3yrs). We were expecting a large grant this month (Eur 1m), but got news two weeks ago that it won't be coming, so there is actually no money in the 'pot' so to speak! I'm not in a trade union.

Thanks for the FIS/SW information - can I ask if maintenance received is assessed also - is it included in my gross salary etc?

Lugh Ildanach

Well, if you are made redundant and the employer cannot pay, then the State will pay your entitlement, but it won't be much with only 3 years service, so in reality you may have no option. As I was suggesting, you could go on reduced hours rather than take a cut in your rate of pay. A cut in your hours can be easily reversed if things pick up, not so much with a cut in your pay, and also with a cut in hours, you have time to look for other work, or even if it just means a saving in childcare costs it can be worth it. Its something to seriously consider, and management may be open to something like that.

As far as maintenance is concerned, the first 95.23 each week is disregarded for the purpose of OPFP, if you can show that you're spending that much on housing costs. Any maintenance you receive over and beyond this is assessed at 50%.

As for FIS I think maintenance is considered fully when they consider what income you have coming in.

yabadabado

Lugh Ildanach wrote: »

As for FIS I think maintenance is considered fully when they consider what income you have coming in.

Yeah maintenance is fully assesible for FIS.