Soon to be lone parent

kiki25

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for some advice on what steps I need to take. Currently I am living with my partner of 5 and half years, we have two daughters, first is just gone two years and the youngest is 6 months. Myself and my partners relationship has broken down and we are sleeping in sep bedrooms. We have tried everything and nothing works. He has told me that if I leave I will regret it!! I am not working and I am currently a dependant on my partners claim, and he also claims for our children. I have no savings and not in a position to just pack up with my kids and leave.. Can anyone help and advise me on what to do next.. We are renting a house and are on the council housing list. My own family live 40min away but I want to do this myself and not depend on my family to help as things are hard enough for everyone. Can I transfer to a different county council and become a single applicant? Can the HSE help me get started in new accommodation? what am I entitled to?

January

Moved from Parenting to State Benefits

Moonbeam

I would talk to your local social welfare officer.
Financially if he is not working and is on social welfare then you really do not have alot to loose.
You will claim for you and the kids and get rent allowance for you and the kids and he is the one that will loose income.
I am no expert though. Citizens information should have info too.

wmpdd3

As far as I can make out, you cant apply for one parent until you are single for 3 months.

If you rock up to the social welfare office on Tuesday morning and claim JSA, immediately your partners payment will stop while they remove you and the kids from it. It may only stop for a week but it could be 3 weeks, in the mean time payment would be made by the community welfare officer.

As you would claim JSA, you would have to be looking for work. If after 3 months you are still single you could then apply for OPF. While you are waiting for your JSA to come through, you would get paid from the CWO.

Someone else may know better, but it may be easier to 'split ' you claim from his and then ask for a re means test based on you being now single, this may be easier and less disruptive.

Are you already getting rent allowance? If you are hopefully it might be easier to move the payment ot you and have your other half move out, no idea if this is possible, but find out before the other half does move out, when that happens the payment will stop.

Best of luck...

mrsbyrne

The 3 month rule only applies if you are married so as soon as you split you can apply for OPFP.
Once your application is in you should see your CWO for an SWA while your waiting for it to be processed.
You can't look for JSA because I don't think your really available for work.
The HSE don't help with housing anymore. You will be speaking to the CWO about rent supplement . He/she will tell you the rent limit for your area and circumstances and you will then be looking for accommodation in your price range. You are already on a Council housing list so that's good.

maria34

Id say your partner doesnt like it because he will get only 188 week if even that! Plus he is not entiteled for a big house paid by taxpayers.

You will be a single parent so you can claim one parent allowance for you and your kids. Also you can claim rent allowance.
All this is available www.welfare.ie

donegal11

He'll also have to pay maintenance too.

stickybookmark

donegal11 wrote: »

He'll also have to pay maintenance too.

Be careful with that one. Once the maintenance order is in place the maintenance counts as means and may exclude you from getting rent allowance.

Mrs OBumble

kiki25 wrote: »

He has told me that if I leave I will regret it!!

I know this thread is several weeks old .. but if you partner is making threats like this (even non-specific ones) , then your should be approaching Women's Aid for help.

They can help you sort out welfare eligibility, and also help you plan a safe way to leave the house.