Seriously need help and advice!

al06

I am new to this so if someone has posted something like my post, or the same before, I apologise - I really need help and advice asap! Thanks in advance to everyone... here's my story

I have moved out of my family home, where I lived with my brother, about 2 months ago and I moved in with my boyfriend as we have a baby on the way. So, not wanting to fraud the state like so many others.. I changed my address and they stopped my job seekers allowance straight away as my boyfriend works. He earns minimum wage. Our rent is nearly 200 euro a week and they claimed he was meant to be able to afford this, our cars (nothing fancy incase you think we have loads of money! i had the car for college because it worked out cheaper - since finishing college and being cut off in payments I have had to sell my car.. plus, I live in the country so stranded now!), bills, food shopping, general expenses for myself, himself and the child on the way.... plus they took my medical card.
Since trying to pay for this on less than 400 euro a week, as they said the cut off point was 200 euro a week, and because he earned more than that I wasn't entitled to any claim.
So with money being tight and I had started a part time course to try and make myself more employable, paying for everything and the course from his wage wasnt working and money arguments started and he eventually moved out. My baby is due in 6 weeks time and they said that they would have to send out an inspector to see that he's not living here, which is fine as he has moved out and I'm not trying to fraud anyone, but they said that this will take a few weeks, and then maybe another few weeks to decide my claim. So I am without money of any sort, and they told me I am not entitled to rent allowance either even though I am on my own with no income, no savings left, nothing for my child and no partner to help support me.
Am I entitled to get any sort of payment, even to cover my food bills? Because if I get nothing, I don't think I'll survive much longer! and I have missed my doctor check ups as I cannot afford to go as they took my medical card as well.
The community welfare officer told me I wouldnt get anything and when I had the child I would be entitled to something small but it would take months to come through so he told me not to apply and to move in with a friend as I have no family to rely upon.
I think thats pretty much every detail... if anyone can help me or give me some advice I would really really really appreciate it and I hope I'm not wasting anyones time - thank you all so much in advance..

MissFlitworth

al06 wrote: »

I don't think I'll survive much longer! and I have missed my doctor check ups as I cannot afford to go as they took my medical card as well.

I can't comment on the rest of your issue unfortunately but antenatal medical care is free in Ireland (see HSE info here), it's nothing to do with having a medical card, so you should definitely go to your doctor.

Owryan

I cannot understand why the cwo is refusing to help as that is their job.

Get to citizens info and see if they can get in touch with someone to help you. You could approach svp for help too.

Its an awgul situation to ve in and I was in a similar position to you not so long ago. I am appalled at your cwo

tenchi-fan

Move back in to your family home. Claim child benefit. Get your boyfriend to pay maintenance. And get on a housing list.

CarrieLee

It sounds like that CWO was really unhelpful.

Have you reapplied for Social Welfare now that your boyfriend has moved out? If so, you may be able to get a crisis loan for food etc while your application is being processed. You should ask about this at the social welfare office or you might be able to find out at citizens information. You could also try the salvation army, st.vincent de paul or even the local church for help. Have you anything you can sell online to get some money or can you ask your ex for help? When the baby comes he will have to pay maintenance. You can also get forms for child supplement & children's allowance once you have the baby. You should apply to be on a housing list too

I'm very sorry to hear that you're in this situation.

al06

Thanks so much everyone for your comments.

Unfortunately I cannot move back to my family home as it has since been reposessed.

My CWO told me I was too young to be having a baby (21 years old) and moving out of home - although he too knows it was reposessed - the more I think of everything he said, the more disgusted I feel. He said I had to fill out forms for him and bring them back at the end of the week and he would see if he would approve me for some money in the mean time of having my social welfare.

My partner would have had no problem staying if the system was fair but he really just can't afford everything, he did try his best for a couple of weeks but looking from his point of view I would also have got fed up of all my money being gone!

I have applied for jobs and had interviews but nowhere is going to employ me being close to giving birth - i know it's against the law for them not to hire me because i'm pregnant - but as soon as they will have hired me and trained me in, i'd have the baby etc

al06

MissFlitworth wrote: »

I can't comment on the rest of your issue unfortunately but antenatal medical care is free in Ireland (see HSE info here), it's nothing to do with having a medical card, so you should definitely go to your doctor.

my doctor's secretary rang me a couple of days ago to let me know my medical card was withdrawn and I would have to pay for my visits but visits to the hospital under the antenatal care are still free despite having no medical card..

JessyH

go to back on to job seekers and inform them of your situation they should be able to provide you with an emergency loan or temporary housing until you get yourself back on your feet.

Graces7

You need to speak with someone with greater authority. The CWO has a Supervisor.

Comments like being too young to have a baby are way unprofessional and totally irrelevant.

The best people to advise are the Citizen;'s Information, Please. go and see them? As soon as you can. They know the system and have all the forms etc.

Make a list of all you have said here.

Please take care of you; you need this hassle like a hole in the head.

al06

Thanks so much Graces7

The CWO said he has to come and inspect my house to make sure my partner is really gone and he said last week it would be sometime this week and then another week or so if everything was in order, that is to receive emergency money.

Although I thought emergency money was given straight away lol

But from all the comments he said to me, I don't feel comfortable letting him into my house when I'm on my own to look around. I think I may ask is there anyone else can do it... But afraid this would take longer

When i went back in last week i had a heap more smart comments thrown at me. have them all dated and printed so i can pass them onto his supervisor.

Joe_the_paddy

if he earns €400 over 5 days and this is your only source of income, than you are entitled to €108.80 on UA. Ask about a UP19 when you go into the social welfare office. It is a form for a pregnant jobseeker to get paid in the bank for the month before and 2 months after the baby being born, together with being exempt from signing over that period, Good luck.

eastbono

Joe_the_paddy wrote: »

if he earns €400 over 5 days and this is your only source of income, than you are entitled to €108.80 on UA. Ask about a UP19 when you go into the social welfare office. It is a form for a pregnant jobseeker to get paid in the bank for the month before and 2 months after the baby being born, together with being exempt from signing over that period, Good luck.

UP19 is a form to show that you are looking for work.

Joe_the_paddy

EDIT = UP22 (sorry)

al06

Joe_the_paddy wrote: »

EDIT = UP22 (sorry)

Thank you so much, will be going into my social welfare office tomorrow to ask for this.

Thanks so much to everyone also. My head would be blown off my shoulders if it weren't for everyones advice!

Still waiting for the CWO to call.... Have to hand in my notice and sleep on a friend's couch now... not the picture I had 6 weeks before giving birth! Really hope I get something sorted soon!!

kildare.17hmr

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snip ---- bad mouthing dept staff is unacceptable

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Imvho and you may not like this, your boyfriend needs to man up and support his family. I was let go from a job last year where i was earning good money, i got a new job and was earning 400 per week. I have a partner who does not work as we have 2 kids in playschool and school and i managed to do it, pay rent of nearly 200 pw, shopping and bills. Sure it was very tight for a few months until i got another job but we did what we had to do and got by with the little we had. No luxurys just essentials.

Neyite

al06 wrote: »

my doctor's secretary rang me a couple of days ago to let me know my medical card was withdrawn and I would have to pay for my visits but visits to the hospital under the antenatal care are still free despite having no medical card..

Are you under combined care? if so, under that scheme, you have roughly half your antenatal with your GP and half with the hospital. If the GP are charging you for these appointments then they are wrong to do so - they are claiming the cost of these from the HSE so in effect they are getting paid twice.

al06

Thanks Neyite!

kildare.17hmr - Yep, I don't have a boyfriend anymore, so I am single. Like many other people out there in the country and I am not going to be with someone just for their money. And yes, you survived on the bare essentials until you got another job. You obviously we're happy and things weren't as great surviving on the bare essentials, so you got another job.
I am not in the position to have a job or to be looking so close to giving birth. I have qualifications to get a job and will do so as soon as my baby is born and settled in.
And I wasn't bad mouthing any dept staff, I was explaining my situation to the people helping me on this board. Thanks