Benefits for single mum with low paying job

Zander1983

I have a single parent friend with a 5 year old child from a previous relationship. Up to last month she was receiving 198 euro per week One-Parent Family Payment. However she recently started a job, which pays 23k, and this is getting cut. She receives 200 euro per month from the father of the child. Her rent is 1100 per month. She was recently forced to sublet a room for 550 per month. Her landlord does not accept rent allowance. She does not want to move as 1100 for a 2 bed in Dublin is great.

Assuming the One-Parent Family Payment gets cut, that leaves her with just 140 state benefit per month - from childrens allowance.

The creche costs 440 per month and a child minder is 170 per week.

As you can imagine, financially she's barebly surviving.

I think she can apply for the Back to Work Family Dividend. Im unsure of how much this is? Is it €31.80 per week or €131.40 per week? The confusing info is here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/claiming_a_social_welfare_payment/claiming_and_increase_in_your_payment_for_a_child_dependant.html

She does not want to quit her job as it has great potential for future earnings - she's a talented graphic designer. What are the options for someone in this situation?

Curlysue76

The back to work family dividend is €31.80 a week for 1st year then half that for 2nd yr.

beechwood55

Can her child's father increase the amount that he pays for maintenance?

splinter65

Zander1983 wrote: »

I have a single parent friend with a 5 year old child from a previous relationship. Up to last month she was receiving 198 euro per week One-Parent Family Payment. However she recently started a job, which pays 23k, and this is getting cut. She receives 200 euro per month from the father of the child. Her rent is 1100 per month. She was recently forced to sublet a room for 550 per month. Her landlord does not accept rent allowance. She does not want to move as 1100 for a 2 bed in Dublin is great.

Assuming the One-Parent Family Payment gets cut, that leaves her with just 140 state benefit per month - from childrens allowance.

The creche costs 440 per month and a child minder is 170 per week.

As you can imagine, financially she's barebly surviving.

I think she can apply for the Back to Work Family Dividend. Im unsure of how much this is? Is it €31.80 per week or €131.40 per week? The confusing info is here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/claiming_a_social_welfare_payment/claiming_and_increase_in_your_payment_for_a_child_dependant.html

She does not want to quit her job as it has great potential for future earnings - she's a talented graphic designer. What are the options for someone in this situation?

SW won’t take her outgoing into account.
If she signs of OPFP then she will get €31.30 per week BTWFD and around €35 to €40 WFP.
So her weekly income will be
Around €415 take home pay
€50 maintenance
€31.30 + €40 from SW + €32 per week CB
So around €570.

Zander1983

Curlysue76 wrote: »

The back to work family dividend is €31.80 a week for 1st year then half that for 2nd yr.

That's what I as afraid of

Zander1983

beechwood55 wrote: »

Can her child's father increase the amount that he pays for maintenance?

Not without a court case, which is too much stress

Zander1983

splinter65 wrote: »

SW won’t take her outgoing into account.
If she signs of OPFP then she will get €31.30 per week BTWFD and around €35 to €40 WFP.
So her weekly income will be
Around €415 take home pay
€50 maintenance
€31.30 + €40 from SW + €32 per week CB
So around €570.

Thanks but Im not familiar with these acronyms. BTWFD is the Back to Work allowance, but what about CB and WFP?

570 per week - 110 (creche) - 170 (child minder) - 137.50 (rent) = 152.50 pw for herself and her child.

Is she better off not working? It seems crazy but this seems to be the case

splinter65

Zander1983 wrote: »

Thanks but Im not familiar with these acronyms. BTWFD is the Back to Work allowance, but what about CB and WFP?

570 per week - 110 (creche) - 170 (child minder) - 137.50 (rent) = 152.50 pw for herself and her child.

Is she better off not working? It seems crazy but this seems to be the case

CB is child benefit. WFP is working family payment. Add to that the BTWFD then that means she has a top up of €100 approx per week from SW. That’s about as much as she can expect when earning €23000.
If she’s paying €280 per week for child minding then that seems like an awful lot.

Zander1983

splinter65 wrote: »

CB is child benefit. WFP is working family payment. Add to that the BTWFD then that means she has a top up of €100 approx per week from SW. That’s about as much as she can expect when earning €23000.
If she’s paying €280 per week for child minding then that seems like an awful lot.

Thank you.

I just spoke with her and creche is 100 per week and child minder is 150. So 250 per week actually.

By the way, would anyone know the average maintenance a father would pay an estranged partner? I know it probably varies wildly, but 200 per month seems paltry.


Seems to me she can do 3 things as her current situation is financially completely dire (she has no family to rely on btw):
1/ Quit the job and rely on benefits. Probably would be better off but sacrificing the career.
2/ Go to court to get more from the father of her child
3/ Ask work for 30k+

neonsofa

Does she have a medical card? Has she looked on affordablechildcare.ie for assistance with her childcare costs?

Zander1983

neonsofa wrote: »

Does she have a medical card? Has she looked on affordablechildcare.ie for assistance with her childcare costs?

No medical card - the kid has free healthcare until 6. Can she and the kid get one?

Affordable Childcare looks like it could be a great help, thanks

neonsofa

Zander1983 wrote: »

No medical card - the kid has free healthcare until 6. Can she and the kid get one?

Affordable Childcare looks like it could be a great help, thanks

She should definitely apply for one for herself.

Is the child in school? Is there a reason she is paying creche and child minder?

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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Zander1983

neonsofa wrote: »

She should definitely apply for one for herself.

Is the child in school? Is there a reason she is paying creche and child minder?

Not in school yet but starting in september. The creche refused to take the kid for a full day as he was getting very disruptive. So instead he goes to creche for a half day and stays home with a child minder for the other half.

Could she apply for a medical card for the kid too?

Zander1983

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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Oh, so 200 a month isn't actually that bad? I had guessed that 400 a month for 1 child would be the norm, but perhaps not

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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neonsofa

Zander1983 wrote: »

Not in school yet but starting in september. The creche refused to take the kid for a full day as he was getting very disruptive. So instead he goes to creche for a half day and stays home with a child minder for the other half.

Could she apply for a medical card for the kid too?

The kid is covered under the 6 years GP care no?
She could possibly apply for the after school care scheme once he starts school if she is in receipt of the qualifying payments.

The maintenance she's receiving would be above what anybody I know is receiving anyway.

Zander1983

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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Ok thank you

Zander1983

neonsofa wrote: »

The kid is covered under the 6 years GP care no?
She could possibly apply for the after school care scheme once he starts school if she is in receipt of the qualifying payments.

The maintenance she's receiving would be above what anybody I know is receiving anyway.

Ok will look into this.

Ok im very surprised by this - I thought 50 a week was extremely paltry.

ash23

Was in the same position. No maintenance from the father. I was eligible for FIS which I think is now called Working Family Payment.
I was also eligible for a full medical card for myself and the child. It meant I paid a lower rate of USC tax also.
She would also be eligible for a single parent tax credit so she should make sure she's claiming that.
And back to school allowance also.
At times on such a wage it can feel a bit hopeless or pointless working when you're not that much better off (and sometimes worse off) financially. School holidays mean increased childcare fees.
But it's worth persevering as childcare costs will eventually go and earning potential will increase
She's better off long term.

tedpan

Where in Dublin is the apartment? Surely she'll be able to get more than 500e per month from a tenant, doesn't really matter how much she pays.

denis160

Would she be entitled to the after school childcare scheme seeing as her little one will be school going in September & she’ll be in receipt of BTWFD? If she is it’ll help massively as the rates are approx €3 per day for after school care for 52 weeks including collection from school if they offer that service. She should contact her local childcare committee & they will advise, they are very helpful.

Zander1983

tedpan wrote: »

Where in Dublin is the apartment? Surely she'll be able to get more than 500e per month from a tenant, doesn't really matter how much she pays.

Its in Lucan. Yes she could get more but currently there's a friend living there so she's giving her a good price

Zander1983

ash23 wrote: »

Was in the same position. No maintenance from the father. I was eligible for FIS which I think is now called Working Family Payment.
I was also eligible for a full medical card for myself and the child. It meant I paid a lower rate of USC tax also.
She would also be eligible for a single parent tax credit so she should make sure she's claiming that.
And back to school allowance also.
At times on such a wage it can feel a bit hopeless or pointless working when you're not that much better off (and sometimes worse off) financially. School holidays mean increased childcare fees.
But it's worth persevering as childcare costs will eventually go and earning potential will increase
She's better off long term.

Thanks you. Yeah that's how she feels at the moment - hopeless. I agree, it's much better in the long term. School will be starting soon which will bring childcare costs well down.

Zander1983

denis160 wrote: »

Would she be entitled to the after school childcare scheme seeing as her little one will be school going in September & she’ll be in receipt of BTWFD? If she is it’ll help massively as the rates are approx €3 per day for after school care for 52 weeks including collection from school if they offer that service. She should contact her local childcare committee & they will advise, they are very helpful.

Yes I believe she will be. There are so many different things to look in to! Every little helps though

lawred2

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

From personal experience I know a lady who took the ex to court, he was giving €90 a week for 3 children, like the OP’s friend got a job, asked the dad for more maintenance etc, he refused, she was advised by friends to go to court, she did, end result €10 per child.

The maximum the district court can award is €150 per week per child, the other parent would need to be on outrageous money to get that though.

Imagine refusing to support your own children... Mind boggles

lawred2

Zander1983 wrote: »

Its in Lucan. Yes she could get more but currently there's a friend living there so she's giving her a good price

Are you this friend?

PlaneSpeeking

Others have offered help but I just wanted to wish your friend luck - it is lovely to see someone with such a positive attitude (working is proving problematic but she doesn't want to quit as it promises great success and fulfillment).

I hope all goes well.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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splinter65

The job would be a good idea if she could rein in her childcare costs. €250+for one child of school going age is just not reasonable even for Dublin. She is as a lone parent entitled to subsidized childcare if she goes to work. There is good SW support for lone parents but it’s not limitless.

draiochtanois

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Zander1983

lawred2 wrote: »

Are you this friend?

Haha, no im not!

Zander1983

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

Others have offered help but I just wanted to wish your friend luck - it is lovely to see someone with such a positive attitude (working is proving problematic but she doesn't want to quit as it promises great success and fulfillment).

I hope all goes well.

Thank you, very kind words. Ill tell her. She's a trooper.

Zander1983

draiochtanois wrote: »

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She mentioned this to me previously, i will find out. I think the kid isn't eligible as i know she's paying the full creche amount

Zander1983

splinter65 wrote: »

The job would be a good idea if she could rein in her childcare costs. €250+for one child of school going age is just not reasonable even for Dublin. She is as a lone parent entitled to subsidized childcare if she goes to work. There is good SW support for lone parents but it’s not limitless.

Ya the issue is the child is quite disruptive. But with school starting soon that cost will come down

wonski

Father paying 200 euro a month is a joke.

While it is stressful, I would try to run it through the courts as at some point he will just stop paying anything, and the op's friend needs some security. Not that he does pay more than anything now... 200 a month is nothing really.

loyatemu

is she not entitled to HAP? Even with a lodger the rent is a big outgoing.

Zander1983

wonski wrote: »

Father paying 200 euro a month is a joke.

While it is stressful, I would try to run it through the courts as at some point he will just stop paying anything, and the op's friend needs some security. Not that he does pay more than anything now... 200 a month is nothing really.

Yes i think 200 is dreadful too - the father has a good job. The relationship is terrible though, going back to court (the 200 was originally secured though court) would be far too much stress.

Zander1983

loyatemu wrote: »

is she not entitled to HAP? Even with a lodger the rent is a big outgoing.

The landlord doesn't accept rent allowance....

draiochtanois

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Zander1983

draiochtanois wrote: »

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Ok ill look into that, thanks

loyatemu

Zander1983 wrote: »

The landlord doesn't accept rent allowance....

If they're above board and happy with her as a tenant, then there's no reason for them not to accept HAP.

Otherwise she should consider moving. €550 a month is a lot of money in her circumstances and the HAP would cover most if not all of her rent elsewhere.

splinter65

draiochtanois wrote: »

The landlord can't not accept HAP

The tenants first have to be accepted onto the housing list.
Then they will send the tenant a HAP form. The tenant will give the landlord his/her part of the form to complete.
The landlord will take it away and never bring it back.

neonsofa

On paper the landlord can't refuse HAP. In reality they can and do every day. Especially if things arent avove board. And finding alternative accommodation that is affordable or a landlord that accepts HAP (from a new tennant especially) is extremely difficult. I'd be careful about pushing the issue. By all means look into it but I have heard of landlords "selling/moving back in" or increasing the rent once they feel a tennant may be looking at rent supplement or HAP- pushing them out instead of refusing.

splinter65

neonsofa wrote: »

On paper the landlord can't refuse HAP. In reality they can and do every day. Especially if things arent avove board. And finding alternative accommodation that is affordable or a landlord that accepts HAP (from a new tennant especially) is extremely difficult. I'd be careful about pushing the issue. By all means look into it but I have heard of landlords "selling/moving back in" or increasing the rent once they feel a tennant may be looking at rent supplement or HAP- pushing them out instead of refusing.

This x100. On paper a lot of things to do with stuff like renting a property or employment rights looks good.
The reality is it’s a landlord/employers ballgame at the moment and encouraging vulnerable people to rock the boat isn’t always the best way forward.

Clarifier

On the other hand, didn't the courts recently award a few tenants thousands (even tens of thousands?) from a landlord in lieu of HAP payments they would have received but didn't because he refused to sign the forms?