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Co-Habiting - one parent family?

  • 12-12-2011 12:44pm
    #1
    kerchunky2010
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 ✭


    Hi,

    I am enquiring on behalf of a friend.

    She is currently living with her parents with her daughter and has had a falling out with her father and had to leave.

    Her daughters daddy has let them move in till she gets something sorted.
    They are not a couple I must add.

    Recently was made unemployed and yet to claim any welfare, would she be entitled to One Parent Family? so as to then claim rent allowance as she cannot stay with ex long term?

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    Lugh Ildanach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 522 ✭✭✭Lugh Ildanach


    There are a number of conditions that she would need to meet before qualifying for One Parent Family Payment (OPFP) (separated for more than 3 months, child being a certain age etc.)

    But those aside, the main issue will be cohabitation. The Department are unlikely to believe that she is separated if she still lives with the child's father. There is room for her to argue that she is separated, especially if she has documentary evidence to show that they are financially separated, and of course after an inspection has been carried out. The Department's policy on cohabitation is here http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/cohabit.aspx

    However, even though there is clearly room for her to argue that she is separated, the reality is that she will probably be refused on cohabitation grounds and have to appeal (which can take a year or longer).

    As far as rent supplement is concerned, she doesn't need to be on One Parent Family Payment to get it. She should immediately apply to her local authority to be assessed as in need of housing. Once she is assessed, then she can find a house and apply for rent supplement.

    The sooner she gets her rent supplement sorted and into her own accommodation the sooner she's likely to get her OPFP sorted out.


  • #3
    xxlauraxxox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 550 ✭✭✭xxlauraxxox


    To qualify for a One-Parent Family Payment you must:
    • Be the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of a qualified child.
    • Be the main carer of at least one qualified child and that child must live with you. One-Parent Family Payment is not payable if the parents have joint equal custody of a child or children.
    • Have earnings of €425 or less per week
    • Satisfy a means test
    • Be habitually resident
    • Not be living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting
    If you are separated, divorced or your civil partnership is dissolved you must:
    • Have been living apart from your spouse/civil partner for at least 3 months
    • Have made efforts to get maintenance from your spouse or civil partner where your civil partner is the parent of the child/ren
    • Be inadequately maintained by your spouse or civil partner where your civil partner is the parent of the child/ren
    If your spouse/civil partner is in prison:
    • He/she must have been sentenced to at least six months in prison or have spent at least six months in custody.


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