Am I entitled to anything?

amy1plus2

Dont know where to start, my husband has informed me that he is leaving. We have 3 children together and a mortgage as well as other significant debts. He works full-time on a temporary contract, his contract finishes in January. I am out of work and did not qualify for JSA because of his wages. He has said he's moving out and will need to pay rent in a new place. Im absolutely disgusted at this whole situation and have no clue where to start or what to do but obviously I need to think about my children first and foremost. Any advice is appreciated greatly. I will head into my local welfare office this week.

mp22

Start here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/one_parent_family_payment.html

As you will have no income http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/supplementary_welfare_allow.html

maryk123

Think about him moving out - you are left in the family home with all the debts - the bank will contact you because you are in the house and all the letters come to you - i sometimes find it would be easier for you to move and leave him there to take the hassle. speak to other women in this situation and i know from friends who are separated its the person who is left in the house takes all the slack while the other person is in a rented flat in town somewhere without any of the hassle.

you can apply for job seekers allowance or one parent family payment (after 3 months). get a maintenance order from court regarding maintenance for yourself and the children. medical card.

amy1plus2

Thanks for the replies. Marky123 I completely understand what your saying, I just cannot see how it would be possible for me to move out, unless it is in with my parents, which would be dire with 3 young children. As it is I have no clue how I am going to afford anything. Am I right in thinking I cannot apply for a 1 parent family payment for 3 more months? I am seriously worried because I dont have family that would be financially able to support me for 3 months. Still cannot even believe I am having to ask questions like these, never in a million years thought I would be in this position. Again, thanks for the advice

another question

amy1plus2 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Marky123 I completely understand what your saying, I just cannot see how it would be possible for me to move out, unless it is in with my parents, which would be dire with 3 young children. As it is I have no clue how I am going to afford anything. Am I right in thinking I cannot apply for a 1 parent family payment for 3 more months? I am seriously worried because I dont have family that would be financially able to support me for 3 months. Still cannot even believe I am having to ask questions like these, never in a million years thought I would be in this position. Again, thanks for the advice

I feel for you, this is a horrible situation to be in. Your best bet is definitey to head to your local SW office as soon as possible and outline your situation, it saves doing all the leg work of thralling through websites for information, at least you can specify your situation and they will be able to tell you everything you need to know.

But as another poster said make sure you apply to the court for a maintenance order, the sooner the better, he has to pay.

Good luck and let us know if your situation improves.

Equality

Hi Amy,

It is not a question of being left peniless for three months.

You go to SW local office and apply for lone parents. They may not pay for the first three months (on the grounds that you might get back together).

But after going to the SW office you then go the the Community Welfare Officer. They are usually in your local health centre, with a nice waiting room, so ok to bring the babies with you. They will issue an emergency payment within days, then you get this ever week until SW sort you out with a payment.

Basically it's the same amount of money, just paid by the CWO or by SW. The CWO can pay faster - within days.

It is 188 for you and 29.80 for each child, plus you can ask for help with mortgage....

amy1plus2

Equality, thanks so much for your reply, I will get started on the process asap.

Equality

Glad to be of help.

Another thing to remember is that you should apply for the medical card as soon as you get your first welfare payment from any office.

If your husband is paying maintenance to you it will reduce the amount of money you get. The figures I have listed are based on him not paying any maintenance.

Also, I hope the debts are in his name? If not, and if the debt companies start to bother you, go to MABS and they will write a letter to the debt companies explaining that you are on social welfare, and can only pay 3 euro per week to each debtor. They will usually accept that deal from MABS, cos if you are on social welfare and MABS is involved they don't have much choice.

Pay your ESB and other essential bills if you can, you need to keep these up to date.

Don't worry too much about the mortgage - if the CWO will pay it for you, that is great, if not just let it go into arrears, as there is no way your kids should go without things they need to pay the mortgage. You basically get just enough on SW to provide for the kids, not to pay debts or a mortgage, which is why the CWO will usually pay some of the mortgage.

Don't accept if your husband offers to pay the mortgage as his contribution to maintenance - it wreaks havoc with your finances, as the SW will count it as maintenance, and reduce your SW money accordingly. BUT your husband will be paying the mortgage with the maintenance, so you never see the maintenance money, and are on reduced SW.