Looking for help re: assessment for OPF, think I've been wrongly assessed!

augusta24

I was wondering if anybody could help with this issue. I think I may be receiving less than I am entitled too but before I go to my local Social Welfare Office or appeal it I'd like to run it by people here..... I could be completely wrong about this so you guys could really save me from making a fool of myself.

Basically have been receiving one parent family payment for about 3 years now. It was the first encounter I've ever had with social welfare payments and at the time was in a situation where I was unaware of what I was entitled to etc. So I was means tested and was told how much I would receive.

I have happily received this every week since until this week when I found myself on the social welfare website and realised that I may have been assessed wrongly. Now I know this is my fault and I would probably not be entitled to back payment so don't worry I'm not looking for that!


But here are my details and I'd be so grateful if someone could advise me as to whether I'm right or wrong!

My total income is €200 a week (this is maintenance from my husband whom I am separated from).

I receive €172.80 a week and I have one dependent child.

From what I can tell they have assessed me by saying I am entitled to €188+€29.80 = €207.80 Then disregard first €130 of income, means = €70/2= €35.

Then €207.80-35= €172.80.


Now this all seems okay to me until I read the section on the social welfare website about how you can offset maintenance against rent up to €95.23 each week.

This to me looks like my income to be assessed would actually be €200-€95.23= €105 so then it looks to me like I should then be getting the full €207.80 ?????


Many thanks to anyone who can help me with this!

cee_jay

The income disregard is or income from earnings only, I.e. if you were working.
The only disregard on maintenance is that for rent/mortgage.
You rate looks correct based on your maintenance.

augusta24

cee_jay wrote: »

The income disregard is or income from earnings only, I.e. if you were working.
The only disregard on maintenance is that for rent/mortgage.
You rate looks correct based on your maintenance.

Thanks for that quick reply. I really appreciate any help because to be honest I don't really want to have to go back to the social welfare office about this!

However, I had another look on the social welfare website again and it does state that maintenance can be offset against rent/mortgage?

eddiehen

augusta24 wrote: »

Thanks for that quick reply. I really appreciate any help because to be honest I don't really want to have to go back to the social welfare office about this!

However, I had another look on the social welfare website again and it does state that maintenance can be offset against rent/mortgage?

Yes, that's 200€ - 95.23=104.77

Divided by 2 = 52.38 (this translates to 45€ in the SW system)

217.8 - 45 = €172.80

augusta24

eddiehen wrote: »

Yes, that's 200€ - 95.23=104.77

Divided by 2 = 52.38 (this translates to 45€ in the SW system)

217.8 - 45 = €172.80

But does the usual €130 that's disregarded anyway for OPF not count too?

mrsbyrne

augusta24 wrote: »

But does the usual €130 that's disregarded anyway for OPF not count too?

No. the 130euro discount is applied to income from work. Income from work and maintenance are treated differently. You have been correctly assessed.

augusta24

mrsbyrne wrote: »

No. the 130euro discount is applied to income from work. Income from work and maintenance are treated differently. You have been correctly assessed.

Thanks for the reply. That makes sense to me but then have I been assessed wrong and am I receiving too much?

200-95=105/2=52.50
Then 207-52= 155? But im receiving 172?

wellieboot

Your means from maintenance are €52.50. See link attached.

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/sw19/Pages/sw19_sect3.aspx#opfp

That entitles you to €143 personal rate + €29.80 for 1 child - €172.80pw