Hi guys,
I joined AAM to get some advice please. I'm an avid reader of the site and there is some great advice given. Here is my story:
I am a lone parent to a 1year old little girl. She was completely unexpected and her father has not contacted me since she was born (he has never seen her and he is not on her Birth Cert). I returned to work full time after my Maternity Leave in August and my daughter is with a childminder Mon-Fri. I decided to go to a solicitor to see about getting maintenance. She sent him 2 letters, both of which were ignored. I went back to the solicitor and asked her to give me a ball park figure of what it would cost me to bring him to court. As he is not on my daughters Birth Cert, the court would order a DNA test, which I would have to pay for, along with the solicitor and barrister fees. The cost would run into the thousands! I would never be able to afford it so I didn't pursue it.
I am still working full time but I'm finding it a struggle financially. Childcare is €500pm on top of my other outgoings (Bank loan, Credit Union loan, Credit Card, Loan repayments to my dad and bills). I take home €1850pm plus €140pm Child Benefit, but after everything is paid, I'm not left with much. I currently live with my parents so thankfully I don't have rent to pay, but I pay 50% of all bills.
I have recently heard that if I reduce my hours at work to 20hrs p/w, I could apply for OPFP, FIS and Rent Allowance!! Is this true? It seems crazy to me that if I work Part Time, I would be better off financially! I have worked my whole life and have never claimed any kind of benefits, but things are so bad at the moment, if it is possible, I will have no choice! My daughter and I are currently living in one room at my parents which is not ideal, so if I could claim rent allowance, we could get a place of our own! It seems to good to be true.....
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in Advance
I joined AAM to get some advice please. I'm an avid reader of the site and there is some great advice given. Here is my story:
I am a lone parent to a 1year old little girl. She was completely unexpected and her father has not contacted me since she was born (he has never seen her and he is not on her Birth Cert). I returned to work full time after my Maternity Leave in August and my daughter is with a childminder Mon-Fri. I decided to go to a solicitor to see about getting maintenance. She sent him 2 letters, both of which were ignored. I went back to the solicitor and asked her to give me a ball park figure of what it would cost me to bring him to court. As he is not on my daughters Birth Cert, the court would order a DNA test, which I would have to pay for, along with the solicitor and barrister fees. The cost would run into the thousands! I would never be able to afford it so I didn't pursue it.
I am still working full time but I'm finding it a struggle financially. Childcare is €500pm on top of my other outgoings (Bank loan, Credit Union loan, Credit Card, Loan repayments to my dad and bills). I take home €1850pm plus €140pm Child Benefit, but after everything is paid, I'm not left with much. I currently live with my parents so thankfully I don't have rent to pay, but I pay 50% of all bills.
I have recently heard that if I reduce my hours at work to 20hrs p/w, I could apply for OPFP, FIS and Rent Allowance!! Is this true? It seems crazy to me that if I work Part Time, I would be better off financially! I have worked my whole life and have never claimed any kind of benefits, but things are so bad at the moment, if it is possible, I will have no choice! My daughter and I are currently living in one room at my parents which is not ideal, so if I could claim rent allowance, we could get a place of our own! It seems to good to be true.....
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in Advance