best option for a single mother

evac

Hey all,

I am 22 and a single mother to a 2 year old, and having my second child in 8 weeks. Up until now its been really hard with money with rent, bills, food etc and I imagine it will be even harder with 2 kids because lone parents will only be 30euro extra. I am really struggling, I get lone parents and rent allowance, no maintenance for either kids. After all my bills and rent is paid I'm only left with 80eur a week most of which goes on food and nappies... I'm left with nothing at all for clothes or socialising or whatever.

I'm thinkin of getting a part time job when the baby's born, just 10 hours or so because its hard to get babysitters because either of the fathers are involved. Just wondering how it would affect my lone parent payment and rent allowance and would it even be worthwhile? Or what would be my best option??? Anyone in the same situation?

cheers

tenchi-fan

evac wrote: »

I am 22 and a single mother to a 2 year old, and having my second child in 8 weeks.

obviously social housing is what you'd be looking for.

Your post is probably better off in the state benefits forum to be honest.

evac

I am on the housing list 2 years now, still waiting.

And i didn't see the other forum, I'm new to this as you can see

Im Only 71Kg

word of warning..great ready for a tsunami of insult. these threads tend to attract a lot of attention.

evac

what? why would I get insulted? because I'm looking for a job soon as this baby is born, to provide for my kids?????????????

Annasopra

tenchi-fan wrote: »

obviously social housing is what you'd be looking for.

Your post is probably better off in the state benefits forum to be honest.

I kind of disagree that the state benefits forum is better because she's asking about employment not social welfare.

OP have you approached any organisations that could provide you with advice like treoir or onefamily or open?

Mr. Loverman

evac wrote: »

what? why would I get insulted? because I'm looking for a job soon as this baby is born, to provide for my kids?????????????

I think he means someone will ask "why are you having kids if you can't afford them?"

That sort of thing.

evac

OP have you approached any organisations that could provide you with advice like treoir or onefamily or open?[/QUOTE]


No I havn't, thought I'd ask here first maybe somebody is in the same boat as me and could steer me in the right direction

Stheno

What sort of work are you after OP?

Mr. Loverman

evac wrote: »

No I havn't, thought I'd ask here first maybe somebody is in the same boat as me and could steer me in the right direction

Have a look at the section "One-Parent Family Payment and work" here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/one_parent_family_payment.html#l1f4da

mikemac

Why can't you get maintenance from either of the two men?

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/parenting_alone/maintenance_and_unmarried_couples.html
Some info here

Annasopra

Maybe parenting forum might be a better idea then as there are lots of single parents there but honestly I think onefamily or open would probably be the best ones to go to

pow wow

Johnnymcg wrote: »

I kind of disagree that the state benefits forum is better because she's asking about employment not social welfare.

I presume because her query was to do with how her benefits would be reduced if she took a p/t job once her second baby arrives. For whatever reason maintenance from the men involved doesn't seem an option for her currently. The SB forum might be more familiar with what would happen in terms of social welfare if she takes on the job.

evac

Stheno wrote: »

What sort of work are you after OP?

Any work at all from cleaning to office work, I don't have any qualifications just my leaving cert and have worked in retail and as an office junior.

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Have a look at the section "One-Parent Family Payment and work" here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/one_parent_family_payment.html#l1f4da

It says the first 146eur of my wages won't affect my lone parents but doesn't say anything about rent allowance i heard it would get cut a lot, so either way I wouldn't end up with more money than now

feelingstressed wrote: »

Why can't you get maintenance from either of the two men?

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/parenting_alone/maintenance_and_unmarried_couples.html
Some info here

I can't get maintenance because they both moved and I've no way of contacting them there's a court order for the father of my 2yr old to pay 30eur a week, but sure I can't even bring him back to court because I've no address for him.

Annasopra

What about doing a course? You could get back to education allowance and it might improve employment prospects

Stheno

evac wrote: »

Any work at all from cleaning to office work, I don't have any qualifications just my leaving cert and have worked in retail and as an office junior.

If you could do a course and get some qualification that might help with office work do you know Office 2003/7 and 2010?

Assuming you can get help with childcare?

Most office work would be 9-5 though hard to see how you could do that for 10-12 hours a week

evac

Johnnymcg wrote: »

What about doing a course? You could get back to education allowance and it might improve employment prospects

Good idea, I might just go into FAS and ask them what I should do.

evac

Stheno wrote: »

If you could do a course and get some qualification that might help with office work do you know Office 2003/7 and 2010?

Assuming you can get help with childcare?

Most office work would be 9-5 though hard to see how you could do that for 10-12 hours a week

Ye I'm good on the computer and I've a good head on my shoulders i studied Accountancy and Finance in DCU, dropped out after first year due to my pregnancy But that wouldn't be an option because first of all I'd have no one to leave my kids with if I worked full time, secondly I wouldn't be entitled to any rent allowance which means I'd have to come up with 980eur rent every month myself, which is a hell of a lot of money!

Mr. Loverman

evac wrote: »

I'd have to come up with 980eur rent every month myself, which is a hell of a lot of money!

:eek:

Why don't you move somewhere cheaper??

evac

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

:eek:

Why don't you move somewhere cheaper??

I live in a small enough 3 bedroom house in blanchardstown, not the nicest area, thats the usual price of rent?? Can't get any cheaper unless the house is falling apart..lol

Mr. Loverman

evac wrote: »

I live in a small enough 3 bedroom house in blanchardstown, not the nicest area, thats the usual price of rent?? Can't get any cheaper unless the house is falling apart..lol

Why do you need a three bedroom house?

You could live in a two bedroom place in Citywest for about €750 per month.

Seriously, sort out your rent situation and your financial problems will go away.

evac

I could hardly live in a 2 bed apt with 2 kids girl and boy? Even still, 750 every month out of my own pocket how could I afford that on a minimum wage??

Mrs OBumble

Moving this to state benefits, because the questions are about the effect on OPF and RA ... frankly we don't know enough to answer them here.

(I think RA isn't actually affected, provided you're still on welfare, but I could be wrong.)

Mr. Loverman

evac wrote: »

I could hardly live in a 2 bed apt with 2 kids girl and boy? Even still, 750 every month out of my own pocket how could I afford that on a minimum wage??

I'm not sure if this is a wind up, but if it isn't, you need a reality check:

1) You cannot afford to live where you live
2) A two year old doesn't need her own room
3) A new born baby doesn't need her own room

€750 per month is less than €980 per month (your current rent), so you will save €230 every month.

Your financial problems will go away.

Seriously, take responsibility for your life and live within your means.

g_moriarty

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I'm not sure if this is a wind up, but if it isn't, you need a reality check:

1) You cannot afford to live where you live
2) A two year old doesn't need her own room
3) A new born baby doesn't need her own room

€750 per month is less than €980 per month (your current rent), so you will save €230 every month.

Your financial problems will go away.

Seriously, take responsibility for your life and live within your means.

Why bother living within your means when the state and taxpayers will subsidize you instead? I seriously believe this thread is some sort of a wind-up.

bellybuster12

g_moriarty wrote: »

Why bother living within your means when the state and taxpayers will subsidize you instead? I seriously believe this thread is some sort of a wind-up.

this is obv a wind up!

mp22

evac wrote: »

Hey all,

I am 22 and a single mother to a 2 year old, and having my second child in 8 weeks. Up until now its been really hard with money with rent, bills, food etc and I imagine it will be even harder with 2 kids because lone parents will only be 30euro extra. I am really struggling, I get lone parents and rent allowance, no maintenance for either kids. After all my bills and rent is paid I'm only left with 80eur a week most of which goes on food and nappies... I'm left with nothing at all for clothes or socialising or whatever.

I'm thinkin of getting a part time job when the baby's born, just 10 hours or so because its hard to get babysitters because either of the fathers are involved. Just wondering how it would affect my lone parent payment and rent allowance and would it even be worthwhile? Or what would be my best option??? Anyone in the same situation?

cheers

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/reference/worksheets/worksheet_one_parent_family_payment_and_income_from_work.html

whippet

This is really a case of needing to look at your current means and living within them.

€950 a month on rent is a lot in the current climate. I am looking a renting a 4 bed detached house 30 mins from dublin for about €800 a month shortly (as soon as I can sell my current house)

If you can cut your monthly outgoings on rent by €200 a month this would worth more to you than earning min wage for 40 hours a month (taking the cost of going to work etc in to account)

What about the father of the impending child? surely you can get a maintenance order from him?

How Strange

Op, just read through this thread and am abit taken aback by your opinions on housing. My husband and I are very fortunate to both still have jobs, we own a 2 bed apartment in Dublin 10 and have a 3 month old baby. We plan in having another next year.

We're looking at raising our family for at least the next 6-8 years in a 2 bed apartment in a less than desirable area because we have no choice. We'd love a house but its not going to happen anytime soon.There are many many young families who are in the same situation.

So to say you can't raise 2 kids in a 2 bed apartment is ridiculous. I know a couple with 1 teenage girl who live in a 1 bed using the living room as a second bedroom. That's reality in
Ireland today.

Most likely all the social welfare entitlements will be cut over the next few years so you may have to live in an apartment by necessity rather than choice.

donalg1

A 2 bed is your best option, why should the state pay for you to live comfortably in a three bed house when a two bed is more than sufficent for you, if things were that hard with one child, why have the second.

Sorry if this sounds a bit mean or cruel but Ireland today is not a happy place with never ending state benefits.

Monife

Going off the above posters topic of rent but I would seriously suggest you enquire about some college courses.

As you are a single parent, you would be entitled to back to education allowance and a a maintenance grant.

Now I am a couple of years out of college, but when I was in college, another girl, well woman (28) was in my course and she was a single mother. She received the back to education allowance (just over €200 I think) and a "special circumstances" maintenance grant. I too received a maintenance grant of about €365 per month, but the above girl received double this, around €780 a month because of her "special circumstances" as being a single mother.

As I said though, I am a couple of years out of college, and the above might have changed slightly but it is definitely worth looking into. You should contact your local citizens information centre and ask to make an appointment.

EDIT: Found some links.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fees_and_supports_for_third_level_education/maintenance_grant_schemes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html

Don't know how to attach a word document, so here is the information from it.

THE SPECIAL RATE OF MAINTENANCE GRANT

1. What is the special rate of maintenance grant?
The special rate of maintenance grant is a specific grant payable to qualifying students on top of the highest level of the regular grant. The additional amount is paid to eligible students from particularly low-income backgrounds. The special rate applies to all the maintenance grant schemes.


2. What is the grant available for students qualifying for the special rate?
The rates for the 2010 financial year are as follows:

Grant
Standard Grant
Special Rate
Total Grant
Adjacent
€1,300
€1,245
€2,545
Non-adjacent
€3,250
€3,105
€6,355


The ‘adjacent’ grant is payable to qualifying candidates whose normal residence is less than 24kms from the college in which the approved course is being undertaken.

The ‘non-adjacent’ grant is payable to qualifying students whose normal residence is more than 24kms from the college in which the approved course is being undertaken.


3. What is the reckonable income limit for the special rate of maintenance grant?
For 2010-11 the reckonable income limit is €22,703 (net of standard exclusions) and net of Child Dependent Increase paid by the Department of Social Protection. As at 31 December 2009, the reckonable income must include one of a range of social welfare payments.


4. What are the standard exclusions?
Currently, the standard exclusions are as follows:
- Child Benefit;
- Family Income Supplement;
- Disability Allowance (where paid to the candidate);
- Blind Pension (where paid to the candidate);
- One Parent Family Payments (Means Tested) (where paid to the candidate)*;
- Guardian’s Pension (Previously known as Orphan's Pensions);
- Foster Care Allowance;
- Domiciliary Care Allowance and
- Carer’s Allowance.


5. What are the social welfare payments that must be included in reckonable income in order to qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant?

Currently, the qualifying social welfare payments are as follows:

a) Social Assistance Payments
Blind Person’s Pension
Carer’s Allowance
One Parent Family Payment
Disability Allowance
Farm Assist
Jobseeker’s Allowance (where held for 391 days or more)
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
Pre-retirement allowance
Widow’s/Widower’s (Non-Contributory) Pension

b) Social Insurance Payments
Carer’s Benefit
One Parent Family Payment
Invalidity pension
Incapacity Supplement
Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (Orphan’s pension)
Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (pension for a widow
or widower)
State Pension (Contributory)
Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
Jobseeker’s Benefit (continuous for at least 12 months)
Widow’s/Widower’s (Contributory) Pension
State Pension (Transition)

c) Family Income Supplement (FIS)

d) Payments for the following designated programmes:
Back to Education Allowance (Second Level and Third Level Option)
Back to Work Allowance (Employees)
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
Community Employment Scheme
Rural Social Scheme
FÁS Training Programmes, including Apprenticeships
Part time job incentive scheme
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)

e) Other Payments
(i)In receipt of payments under the Fáilte Ireland Skills Programme equivalent to a social welfare payment;
(ii) In receipt of payments under the FIT (Fastrack to IT) initiative equivalent to a social welfare payment;
(iii) Participants on a training course approved by a Government Department, State Agency or Area Partnership and who were in receipt of an eligible payment prior to progressing to the programme;
(iv) Grant aided employees in social economy enterprises;
(v) In receipt of payments under the Senior Traveller Training Centre programmes.


*a distinction is made between One Parent Family Payment (OPFP) being paid to the candidate themselves and to another recipient of the household. If, for example, the candidate is a son or daughter of the OPFP recipient, this income would be included in the assessment of reckonable income for the purposes of the student grant application. However, if the student grant applicant themselves is the recipient of OPFP, this income will not be taken into account in the assessment of reckonable income.