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Do I qualify for lone parents allowance?

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  • 14-04-2009 1:51pm
    #1
    E.L
    Closed Accounts Posts: 49 ✭


    My ex boyfriend and i separated two years ago. we both shared the care of our daughter until i lost my job last year.I have been claiming my stamps and i became the carer of our daughter full time while i looked for work.
    My stamps are about to finish and i have applied for lone parents allowance.
    im am worried because my ex has access of a full weekend every two weeks where he takes her. does this affect my claim?


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    #2
    ntlbell
    Registered Users Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    E.L wrote: »
    im am worried because my ex has access of a full weekend every two weeks where he takes her. does this affect my claim?

    no, what he pays in maintenance might tho


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    #3
    E.L
    Closed Accounts Posts: 49 ✭E.L


    he doesnt pay maintenenceas such he pays for montessori which she goes to every second week.


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    #4
    LadyE
    Registered Users Posts: 9,021 ✭✭✭LadyE


    You are entitled to it, maintenance wont affect it either.


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    #5
    foxy06
    Registered Users Posts: 2,138 ✭✭✭foxy06


    maintenence does affect it afaik. Just so you know there is a state benefits forum that may be more helpful in the Biz > Personal section.


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    #6
    Nevyn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/sw82/Pages/1WhatistheOneParentFamilyPayment.aspx


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    #7
    kaa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 124 ✭✭kaa


    E.L wrote: »
    My ex boyfriend and i separated two years ago. we both shared the care of our daughter until i lost my job last year.I have been claiming my stamps and i became the carer of our daughter full time while i looked for work.
    My stamps are about to finish and i have applied for lone parents allowance.
    im am worried because my ex has access of a full weekend every two weeks where he takes her. does this affect my claim?

    wel if you are the full career for the child that shouldn't effect it. but what will happen is they will ask how much does he pay towards the child and subtract that from the total of the loan parents payment.


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    #8
    nesf
    Registered Users Posts: 27,645 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    LadyE wrote: »
    You are entitled to it, maintenance wont affect it either.

    Maintenance does affect it.


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    #9
    luckat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    Find a good family law specialist solicitor and talk to him or her. If you can't pay, go to FLAC and ask them.


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    #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    The Dept of Social and Family Affairs do assess maintenance against One Parent Family Allowance BUT if you are paying rent or a mortgage, they will allow you receive maintenance up to €95 per week before it will have any effect on your OPFA.

    Any maintenance you receive over your housing costs, 50% of it will be assessed as means, and as a rule of thumb, you will lose approx 50% of the assessed amount, off your OPFA.

    The fact that your child's father does not pay you directly, but pays for childcare, will be treated by the Dept of Social and Family Affairs as a "Contribution in Kind"

    Your child's access with his father with have no effect on your claim. But, note that if two unmarried parents share custody equally, on a 50:50 basis, than neither of them will qualify for OPFA.

    You may also be eligible for National Fuel Allowance Scheme, so apply for this also.


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    #11
    dontcallmerosie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10 ✭dontcallmerosie


    I thought there was also a rule where you had to apply within 3 months of becoming eligible, ie. When ye split when u have a child, or when a child is born if your not cohabiting.


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    #12
    caffeinecrazie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭caffeinecrazie


    Yes you are entitled to it. You will have to tell them that he pays for the nursery and how much and they will work out how that affects it.

    dontcallmerosie you are right about having to claim within 3 months of being eligible but the OP only became eligible when she lost her job and her stamps run out as you cannot claim OPFA when you are earning too much to do so.


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    #13
    cee_jay
    Registered Users Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭cee_jay


    dontcallmerosie wrote: »
    I thought there was also a rule where you had to apply within 3 months of becoming eligible, ie. When ye split when u have a child, or when a child is born if your not cohabiting.

    She can still apply - just can't have the payment backdated to when she became eligible.


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