FAQ

Q1. What is the One-Parent Family Payment (OPFP)?

One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for men and women in Ireland who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. The payment is payable to the following persons who are:

• Unmarried
  

• Widowed
  

• Prisoner’s spouse
  

• Separated
  

• Divorced
  

• Former spouse of an annulled marriage.

The OPFP is subject to certain conditions and you must satisfy a means test.

The OPFP is made up of a personal rate and an additional child dependent allowance (CDA) for each child. The amount awarded depends on your weekly means.

What is counted as means?

The following are the main items that are accessed as means:

• Income from employment or self-employment
  

• Maintenance payments received including any paid to or in respect of a dependent child/ren
  

• The value of any property you may have other than your own home
  

• The value of any savings or investments held
  

• Any other cash income

Q2. Can I work outside the home and still keep my One Parent Family Payment?

If you take up paid work you will need to declare any additional income to the Department of Social & Family Affairs.

You may earn up to ™146.50 per week and still retain the full amount of the OPFP. Half of the remainder of your earnings up to ™400.00 per week will be assessed as means.

If your earnings go over ™425.00 per week your OPFP will be stopped immediately. You may be entitled to half rate payment for a maximum of 6 months providing you have been in receipt of the payment for 1 year consecutively.

* You may also be entitled to Family Income Supplement SW 17

You must notify the Department of Social & Family Affairs of any changes in your circumstances as it could result in over payments which would have to be paid back to the Department.

Other Social Welfare information / booklets which may be of interest to you:
Family Income Supplement SW 17
Rates of Payments SW 19
National Fuel Scheme SW 17
Supplementary Welfare Allowance SW 54
Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance SW 75

Q3. My ex-partner has being talking about access, guardianship & custody of the children. What does this mean?

Guardianship involves the duty to maintain and properly look after one’s own child. It confers rights and responsibilities to make important decisions in relation to your child’s up bringing such as choices in education and religion. Also information and involvement regarding any medical problems and the right to sign passport applications.

Who can be a Guardian?

• Married people have automatic guardianship of their child/ren

• An unmarried mother is automatically the child’s guardian

• An unmarried father does not have automatic guardianship, however he can become a joint guardian with the consent of the child’s’ mother by signing Statutory Instrument S.I No 5 of 1998. Or by making an application to the Court to be appointed a joint guardian with the mother.

• Other guardians may be appointed by making a will or by a court order. Mothers who have sole guardianship should make a will to appoint a guardian/s for their child/ren in the event of their death.

Access is contact between a child/ren and a parent whom the child does not live with. Access can be agreed on a voluntary and informal basis, however, if the custodial parent denies access, the non resident parent can apply to the Court for an Access Order. Grandparents or other persons related to the child can also apply through the court for access to the child.

What is Custody?

Custody is the responsibility of the day-day care of a child.
Where a mother is unmarried she has automatic custody of her child. An unmarried father can have voluntary joint custody with the mothers agreement or alternatively go to court to request joint or full custody of the child.

Married couples have automatic joint custody of their child/ren.

Q4. What is maintenance?

Maintenance is the financial support paid by the other parent in respect of a spouse and/or dependent child/ren.

In an unmarried case both parents have a legal responsibility to financial support their child.

Married/separated parents are responsible for maintaining their children and in some cases they may also have to pay maintenance for each other.

Maintenance can be paid on a voluntary basis, agreeing a reasonable amount of maintenance or if an informal agreement cannot be reached an application can be made to the Family Law Court where the decision on the amount of maintenance payable will be made depending on individual circumstances.

The Department of Social & Family Affairs will take maintenance payments into account when deciding on eligibility for the following:

• One Parent Family Payment

• Family Income Supplement

• Medical Card

• Supplementary Welfare Allowance