Children's Allowance Paid to Mothers

Scoondal

Why can the Children's Allowance only be paid to mothers ?
This is odd and archaic.

893bet

Scoondal wrote: »

Why can the Children's Allowance only be paid to mothers ?
This is odd and archaic.

I don’t believe that to be true. Thought it changed a few years back?

newbie18892

Scoondal wrote: »

Why can the Children's Allowance only be paid to mothers ?
This is odd and archaic.

The application form states "Child Benefit is normally paid to the child’s mother or step-mother. If the child does not live with their mother or step-mother, but lives with their father or step-father, Child Benefit can be paid to them. If the child is not living with or being maintained by their parents, the person caring for the child may get Child Benefit."

Covers all bases I would think.

Scoondal

893bet wrote: »

I don’t believe that to be true. Thought it changed a few years back?

Can a Father actually receive children's allowance now ? It might be allowed in law, but can a father really receive this allowance ?

ahnowbrowncow

newbie18892 wrote: »

The application form states "Child Benefit is normally paid to the child’s mother or step-mother. If the child does not live with their mother or step-mother, but lives with their father or step-father, Child Benefit can be paid to them. If the child is not living with or being maintained by their parents, the person caring for the child may get Child Benefit."

Covers all bases I would think.

The OP's point is that it won't be paid to the father if the child is living with both parents.

For the father to receive the payment he must show that he has sole custody of the child.

Gloomtastic!

If the mother and father are living together, the benefit is always paid to the mother. Children’s Allowance staff won’t even talk to the father.

Goes back to the days when the children’s allowance may have been the only income women would have.

Scoondal

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

The OP's point is that it won't be paid to the father if the child is living with both parents.

For the father to receive the payment he must show that he has sole custody of the child.

Yes. I should have clarified this point. Where both parents live together, but the father is the parent doing most for the child's normal life.

Gloomtastic!

Scoondal wrote: »

Yes. I should have clarified this point. Where both parents live together, but the father is the parent doing most for the child's normal life.

Nope. They won’t even talk to the father.

Dtp1979

Scoondal wrote: »

Yes. I should have clarified this point. Where both parents live together, but the father is the parent doing most for the child's normal life.

Sorry chief. You were born with the wrong genetalia so it’s always gonna go against you when it comes to stuff like this.

Credit Checker Moose

It is an archaism that needs to go. It is no longer 1950 where Dad has spent all the money down the pub leaving nowt for Mammy.

Scoondal

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

If the mother and father are living together, the benefit is always paid to the mother. Children’s Allowance staff won’t even talk to the father.

Goes back to the days when the children’s allowance may have been the only income women would have.

In my original post I said it was archaic, like from 1950s.

Gloomtastic!

I looked at having the law changed a few years ago. There’s no votes in it so no TD will touch it. If you have spare €15,000 then you can take a High Court case against the government.

Credit Checker Moose

The equal status act probably applies. Just takes a father to take a case against the department.

Sleeper12

Gloomtastic! wrote:

I looked at having the law changed a few years ago. There’s no votes in it so no TD will touch it. If you have spare €15,000 then you can take a High Court case against the government.

What law would you have changed exactly?

You don't honestly believe that there is an actual law saying that it can't be paid to the father if he lives with his wife?

It's a social welfare RULE not a law.

Dante7

I'm a single father with sole custody and I receive Children's allowance.

Atlantic Dawn

What happens if 2 gay men adopt a child?

Sardonicat

Scoondal wrote: »

Can a Father actually receive children's allowance now ? It might be allowed in law, but can a father really receive this allowance ?

Yes, my partner received it for his son and gave half to his mother who he stayed with 3 nights a week.

jpfahy

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

What happens if 2 gay men adopt a child?

The campest one gets the allowance

Gatling

If you ask your partner nicely it can be paid to you

cee_jay

As per forum charter, this forum is for discussion of personal issues someone may be facing in dealing with SW. This thread is discussing policy, and therefore will be locked.