single mum to be

rufs

Hi,
I am due my baby and am wondering how and when should i go about applying for lone parents allowence?
Any advice is appreciated

mp22

Call into your local social welfare office.

mrsbyrne

rufs wrote: »

Hi,
I am due my baby and am wondering how and when should i go about applying for lone parents allowence?
Any advice is appreciated

You can apply for your lone parent payment as soon as you have your baby in your arms, but not a minute before.you can be filling up some of the form and getting payslips and bank statements and dads ppsn together in the meantime if you want to get ahead but your not a parent till your baby's here. Application form can be found online at WWW.welfare.ie url] or at your local office. Good luck.

rufs

Thank you

sopretty

I've been in your shoes my lady! Hadn't a clue what was going on, hadn't been on the dole apart from for a few weeks as a teenager!

I cried so many times in various offices, God bless us!!

1. You mention being a single mum. The first thing I would advise you is to be prepared for when you're in hospital, please God, after your little baby is born safely and healthily, and you will be casually handed a form for registration of the baby's birth. This form will ask for your details, but also for the baby's father's details. I broke down in tears at that particular part of the form - but forewarned is fore-armed as they say! This form will be the basis for your baby's birth certificate.

2. When you are discharged from hospital, immediately apply for Children's Allowance. That is only paid from when you apply, and depends on the time of the month your child is born I think too!

3. Get your little ass down to the council now to sign on for potential housing. Unless of course you already own your own home! Don't be disheartened by long waiting lists (5 miserable bloomin years in my case). In hindsight, I should have highlighted the conditions I was living in to authorities prior to when I did (pm - if you want clarification on the details).

4. If you are on the dole - get your ass down to your Community Welfare Officer also. I was told to go there, but sure I came away crying. I wasn't used to 'begging' as I saw it. 9 years on and my skin is thicker. They'll probably give you some pittance of a contribution towards a cot, car seat, Moses basket etc., but it's something! Try not to let it get to you though like I did! I used to cry at the drop of a hat when pregnant!

5. Please God, once your baby has arrived safe and sound, you can then apply for lone parents allowance. You really only get the dole and 20-30 quid extra a week for the baby, but it covers the basics like nappies etc!!!

6. I hope you have loads and loads of friends and family who will support you after your little baby arrives. Being a single parent is a tough job, and keeping in regular contact with your GP to ensure that you're not suffering from exhaustion or anything during your first weeks after you have your wee babs, would be advisable.

The thing is, until you actually have a baby, none of the systems in place kick in. So you're trying to buy stuff out of a single person's dole, such as nappies, clothes, cots etc. I know it can be quite stressful.

When everything starts to kick in, it's plain sailing. If I had known what to expect, I'd have saved myself a few tears too!. That said, I'd be the emotional type lol.

Best of luck to you in your pregnancy and best of health and happiness to ye both. x

mrsbyrne

Lots of good advice here. Op doesn't have to apply for child benefit. Once she registers her baby, pleas God, she will receive a partially completed form in the post and all she has to do is sign it and date it and send it back.
The OP needs to meet people like you to give her support.

sopretty

mrsbyrne wrote: »

Lots of good advice here. Op doesn't have to apply for child benefit. Once she registers her baby, pleas God, she will receive a partially completed form in the post and all she has to do is sign it and date it and send it back.
The OP needs to meet people like you to give her support.

Oh that's great to hear, one less stress off a new mum!