Query

Random2016

Hi
Can you claim single mothers allowance if you are still in a relationship with the father of your baby but not living together?
Some weeks he stays over a night or two.
Living with my parents and siblings so no room for more

collywobble7

Funniest post I've ever seen on Boards. 🙈

Random2016

collywobble7 wrote: »

Funniest post I've ever seen on Boards. 🙈

Glad ur amused. I could lie and say we are not together if that helps u.

I'm aware that one parent family payment is if ur not cohabiting my point is am I entitled to it if we are not cohabiting. Thought it was a straight forward question

Clockwork Owl

If you're not a one parent family, you won't be eligible for One Parent Family Allowance - regardless of whether or not you are cohabiting. I suspect the Department would consider this fraudulent.

Random2016

Clockwork Owl wrote: »

If you're not a one parent family, you won't be eligible for One Parent Family Allowance - regardless of whether or not you are cohabiting. I suspect the Department would consider this fraudulent.

Thank you for your help

Sinus pain

Yes you can if you don’t cohabit
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/one_parent_family_payment.html

Random2016

Sinus pain wrote: »

Yes you can if you don’t cohabit
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/one_parent_family_payment.html

Thank you for your reply. That was my understanding of it too.

Clockwork Owl

It mentions that someone may be eligible if they're not cohabiting / living with a spouse or civil partner, but it also says: 'OPF is not payable if the parents have joint equal custody of a child or children.' I presume, if OP and partner have been together since the birth of the child, they share custody?

Random2016

Clockwork Owl wrote: »

It mentions that someone may be eligible if they're not cohabiting / living with a spouse or civil partner, but it also says: 'OPF is not payable if the parents have joint equal custody of a child or children.' I presume, if OP and partner have been together since the birth of the child, they share custody?

Baby stays with me and my mum does childcare when I go to work.. So would that mean u have custody

collywobble7

One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for men and women under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner.  It's fairly simple....

Spook_ie

Random2016 wrote: »

Thank you for your reply. That was my understanding of it too.

Don't forget to read all of it..

Liability to maintain family
Men and women are required, under the law, to pay maintenance to a dependent spouse, civil partner or former cohabitant and any dependent children who are not living with them. These people are called 'liable relatives'. If you are a liable relative and fail to pay enough maintenance to your ex-spouse, ex-civil partner or former cohabitant and dependent child(ren), you must contribute to the cost of the One-Parent Family Payment, which is paid to your family.

The Maintenance Recovery Unit of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will contact the liable relative if they have not paid enough maintenance. You can contact the Maintenance Recovery Unit on (071) 967 2599 for more information. You can also find out more about ‘Liability to Maintain Family’.

Clockwork Owl

It's more a legal issue than just where the child lives and with whom. I don't have any real personal experience or knowledge about custody arrangements but, if you and the father are not married, I don't believe he has joint custody or guardianship of the child unless you explicitly arrange it. I'm afraid I don't know what that means in terms of his rights when it comes to the child in the future. I'd suggest having a chat with your local Citizens Information Centre.

As above, the payment is intended for a single parent raising a child without the assistance of a partner or spouse. If you're still in a relationship with the father, I don't think it would be appropriate - although whether the Welfare Department could / would bother to prove anything is another matter entirely.

The_Kitty

Clockwork Owl wrote: »

It's more a legal issue than just where the child lives and with whom. I don't have any real personal experience or knowledge about custody arrangements but, if you and the father are not married, I don't believe he has joint custody or guardianship of the child unless you explicitly arrange it. I'm afraid I don't know what that means in terms of his rights when it comes to the child in the future. I'd suggest having a chat with your local Citizens Information Centre.

As above, the payment is intended for a single parent raising a child without the assistance of a partner or spouse. If you're still in a relationship with the father, I don't think it would be appropriate - although whether the Welfare Department could / would bother to prove anything is another matter entirely.

I thought in cases where a single mother is on benefits the social will try to chase the father to pay support.

collywobble7

What's annoying here is that everyone seems to be searching for a loophole. Let's look at this in terms even of the spirit of the law. Mother and father are still in a relationship. Father is providing support including obviously financial support. Even in common sense terms it's comical to claim you would be entitled to this payment. Good old Ireland.

Random2016

collywobble7 wrote: »

What's annoying here is that everyone seems to be searching for a loophole. Let's look at this in terms even of the spirit of the law. Mother and father are still in a relationship. Father is providing support including obviously financial support. Even in common sense terms it's comical to claim you would be entitled to this payment. Good old Ireland.

I'm not looking for a loophole. U don't know my full circumstances or my financial situation so I think it's unfair of u to cast judgement. I have never claimed social welfare apart from my maternity benefit and have always worked full time since I finished education. I have had to reduce hours at work because of childcare and I am struggling with bills etc. Not everyone in this country is here to screw the system. Thank you for your comments but maybe consider people that not everyone is out for easy money.

Cherry Blossom

There are plenty of women in reciept of one parent family who have more than one child by the same man. If it wasnt allowed they wouldnt continue to get the payment after the second child is born.

splinter65

Random2016 wrote: »

I'm not looking for a loophole. U don't know my full circumstances or my financial situation so I think it's unfair of u to cast judgement. I have never claimed social welfare apart from my maternity benefit and have always worked full time since I finished education. I have had to reduce hours at work because of childcare and I am struggling with bills etc. Not everyone in this country is here to screw the system. Thank you for your comments but maybe consider people that not everyone is out for easy money.

Hi random
Apply for OPF and the local SW inspector will come and visit you at home to interview you about your application.
Be aware that before the visit the inspector will have spent some time in your street quietly observing comings and goings from your home at random times of the day and into the evening in order to establish a picture for him/herself of your domestic arrangements.
The inspector will compile a report which will help the deciding officer to process your application.
If you are awarded OPF then you may be reviewed at any time after that.
I hope this helps.

The_Kitty

splinter65 wrote: »

Hi random
Apply for OPF and the local SW inspector will come and visit you at home to interview you about your application.
Be aware that before the visit the inspector will have spent some time in your street quietly observing comings and goings from your home at random times of the day and into the evening in order to establish a picture for him/herself of your domestic arrangements.
The inspector will compile a report which will help the deciding officer to process your application.
If you are awarded OPF then you may be reviewed at any time after that.
I hope this helps.

Does that mean a single mother isn't allowed to have a relationship or anyone stay over if claiming benefits. Life isnt black and white. I mean the OP says the father stays over at her parents house where she lives one or two nights a week but that doesnt mean hes paying bills or anything there.

Sinus pain

splinter65 wrote: »

Hi random
Apply for OPF and the local SW inspector will come and visit you at home to interview you about your application.
Be aware that before the visit the inspector will have spent some time in your street quietly observing comings and goings from your home at random times of the day and into the evening in order to establish a picture for him/herself of your domestic arrangements.
The inspector will compile a report which will help the deciding officer to process your application.
If you are awarded OPF then you may be reviewed at any time after that.
I hope this helps.

I seriously doubt this happens unless someone has reported a case of fraud

Gatling

The_Kitty wrote: »

Does that mean a single mother isn't allowed to have a relationship or anyone stay over if claiming benefits. Life isnt black and white. I mean the OP says the father stays over at her parents house where she lives one or two nights a week but that doesnt mean hes paying bills or anything there.

But the op did state they were in a relationship and have a child together that makes them a couple and she Wouldn't be eligible to one parent family